I'm a Professional at Being a Scumbag [Quick Wear] - Chapter 25

Le Yi stood in the courtyard of the residential complex, looking back. The place was empty, yet she distinctly felt that if she called out Chu Qiao’s name, the girl would come running like a dog, wagging her tail and calling out “Sister!”

Fine snowflakes stung her skin as the cold wind blew them against her face. A chill ran down her spine, and the pain and coldness burrowed into her heart, merging together to slowly corrode it.

It hurt, like someone was forcefully ripping something out of her.

The pain made it hard to breathe. She had to gasp for air rapidly to avoid suffocating.

The System detected abnormalities in the host’s vital signs. After a thorough scan, it discovered…

Upon reading the analysis report, it was stunned and then immediately made a decision.

[Host, please leave immediately. Your departure is crucial for the target to reach the pinnacle of life.]

Le Yi’s lips, pale from the cold, parted slightly. “I know.”

She was simply bidding farewell to the past. After all, this was where she had lived for seven or eight years.

The complex had once boasted lush greenery, but now only bare branches remained, exuding an air of desolation.

The fountain at the main gate, for some reason, wasn’t spraying today, merely dribbling water weakly.

Le Yi suddenly remembered the first time they came here. The fountain had broken down, and as they approached, Chu Qiao had been drenched.

At that moment, she seemed dazed, as if she hadn’t anticipated such an unexpected mishap.

Le Yi couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Chu Qiao’s bewildered expression.

A dazed, soaked duckling.

As her laughter faded, Le Yi grew somber.

She had been raising a phoenix, and at a certain point, it needed to leave the nest to learn how to fly. Otherwise, it would never master flight.

She hoped that after she left, the young phoenix would grow a heart as hard as stone.

That would mean her mission in this world was complete.

After much deliberation during the journey, Le Yi finally sent Chu Qiao a message just before boarding her flight:

“It’s snowing. Stay warm and take care of yourself.”

Year-end work piled up at the company, and Chu Qiao was in a meeting when she saw the message. She froze.

“CEO Chu, is something wrong?”

Her expression shifted, and the colleague beside her, unsure if he’d said something inappropriate, hesitated.

Chu Qiao suppressed the unease in her heart, regaining her composure.

“It’s nothing. Let’s continue.”

Chu Ji watched her for a few seconds before refocusing on the screen before him.

The meeting dragged on longer than expected, and Chu Qiao’s unease grew, turning into restlessness.

Chu Ji leaned slightly toward her. “What’s really bothering you?”

Chu Qiao’s expression darkened. “I can’t put it into words, but something feels wrong.”

Understanding her unspoken words, Chu Ji said, “I’ll handle things here. Go get some fresh air.”

Chu Qiao didn’t expect him to be so cooperative. She gave him a deep look, and Chu Ji leaned back in his chair, lazily replying, “Stop looking at me like that. Your brother’s seen it all before.”

Chu Qiao’s expression was too grim. Even if she tried to work, she’d be ineffective and scare the employees.

She murmured a thank you and swept out of the conference room like a gust of wind, leaving the manager stunned.

“CEO Chu…?”

“It’s nothing,” Chu Ji answered.

“The meeting…?”

“Continue.”

Chu Ji thought to himself that he was destined for a life of relentless toil. Ever since his sister had tricked him into returning, he spent 360 days a year at the company, even his looks had deteriorated.

Chu Qiao rushed home, her heart sinking further with each delayed message from Le Yi.

The apartment was clean and tidy, but devoid of any warmth.

Standing in the empty living room, she forced a smile and called out, “Sister, Sister, I’m home.”

There was no response, only the sound of her own hurried breathing, betraying her fear.

Chu Qiao steadied herself and searched every room—bedroom, bathroom, kitchen—but found nothing.

Le Yi was nowhere to be found.

Dazed, Chu Qiao sat down in the living room, thinking, Maybe Sister just went out for a bit. She’ll be back soon.

Yes, that must be it.

So she waited in the living room, from morning until afternoon, from afternoon until nightfall.

Outside, a blizzard raged, the wind howling against the windows with eerie cries.

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped. Chu Qiao’s hands and feet went ice-cold, her body stiffening. Finally, she was certain—

Le Yi wouldn’t be coming back.

She had abandoned her again, and this time, completely.

The room was pitch black for a year. Chu Qiao looked up at the swirling snow outside the window, a slow smile curling her lips.

Fine, Le Yi. Fine!

If you want to play, then I’ll play along!

Chu Qiao’s teeth were grinding so hard they were about to shatter. Without even grabbing her coat, she snatched her phone and rushed outside.

She would check flight schedules, high-speed train times, and every other form of transportation. She would find that woman and drag her back!

Just as Chu Qiao stepped outside the residential complex, her phone beeped. It was a message from Le Yi.

Qiaoqiao, I assume you know I’m gone by now. So, I won’t hide it anymore. I’ve left, and I’m in a place you can’t find me. Don’t waste your energy trying to locate me. You won’t succeed.

Instead of wasting your energy on me, focus on your studies and work. Become a capable adult who can stand on their own.

“You once asked me what kind of person I liked. I didn’t answer at the time, but I’ll answer now. I like people who can control their emotions, remain calm and composed, clear-headed, and mentally strong.”

“From the day I brought you back, I’ve always wanted to help you reclaim the Chu family. This should also be your wish. I raised you, so I know your character. You can remain calm in all other matters, but whenever you encounter me, you lose all composure. This won’t do.”

“I left you, not for any other reason, but to prevent you from wallowing in romantic entanglements and to focus on what you should be doing. Emotions are stumbling blocks on the path to success, especially for you. You may not have noticed, but your feelings for me have become somewhat pathological and obsessive. I only hinder your progress in reclaiming the Chu family, so I chose to leave.”

“I know what I want. I hope you can also understand what you should be doing right now. I despise two types of people: those without goals, and those with love-stricken brains. Unfortunately, you currently fit both descriptions.”

After all I’ve said, you should know what I mean. Qiaoqiao, we’ll meet again on the day you return to the Chu family. I hope it’s a bright and sunny day. I’m eagerly anticipating it.

After sending the long message, Le Yi’s emotions were complicated.

Though her words were sincere, they were also a way to emotionally manipulate Chu Qiao, hoping she would follow the predetermined plot.

If she didn’t say this, she was certain Chu Qiao would stop at nothing to find her.

Even with the System’s help, she could hide well, but that would delay Chu Qiao’s progress in her career.

That was absolutely unacceptable.

Thinking of Chu Qiao’s pitiful state now, Le Yi’s heart tightened with an indescribable bitterness.

To stop her wild thoughts, Le Yi turned off her phone and forced herself to sleep.

But how could she sleep? The bed was so hard and uncomfortable.

The weather was bitterly cold, with no heating, leaving her body clammy.

In the past, Chu Qiao would always warm the quilt for her in advance. Once in bed, they would hold each other tightly, their bodies and hearts both warm.

Children’s feelings come and go quickly. By the time she returns in a few years, there might already be someone else in Chu Qiao’s life.

And she was just the sister who raised her, nothing more.

At this thought, Le Yi gasped for air, as if a hand were wrenching her heart from her chest.

Suddenly, she let out a self-mocking laugh.

“I thought Chu Qiao was the only one caught up in it. But it turns out…”

No person is made of stone. Surrounded by such intense, passionate love, who could remain unmoved?

Chu Qiao stared blankly at the message from Le Yi in the snow for nearly half an hour, until an elderly woman approached and asked if she wasn’t cold in such light clothing. Only then did she raise her head.

Seeing the girl’s tear-streaked face and dejected posture, the old woman startled. She quickly stuffed a sweet bun meant for her grandson into Chu Qiao’s hands.

“Little girl, did you argue with your family? You’ll catch a cold in this heavy snow with so little on. Go home and talk things out with your parents. Everything will be fine once you’ve worked it out.”

Chu Qiao clutched the still-warm sweet bun, tears flooding anew.

“There’s no one left. My parents don’t want me anymore.”

******

Le Yi preferred staying in a northern hemisphere country, not too far from Chu Qiao. She kept a close eye on news about Chu Qiao and the Chu family, feeling genuinely happy each time she saw Chu Qiao featured in financial news.

Under Li Xiaomei’s leadership, the Chu family’s business was deteriorating rapidly, teetering on the brink of collapse. Chu Qiao secured several major contracts, further exacerbating the already dire financial situation of the company.

Starting the next day, she seemed like a completely different person. She was either in class or at the company, often working overtime until 2 or 3 in the morning, leaving herself no time to rest.

Chu Ji knew she must have experienced something significant, but no matter how he tried to ask, Chu Qiao refused to tell him. He tactfully stopped asking and simply supported her silently.

The company’s rise was meteoric. Founded at the right time to catch the industry’s early wave, it thrived as the sector matured during its blue ocean phase. Chu Qiao’s company became a benchmark in the industry, widely emulated by competitors.

Yet Chu Qiao remained unsatisfied, extending her reach into other emerging industries. With her unique vision and sharp judgment, she dominated every market she entered.

At the age of 20, Chu Qiao surpassed Li Xiaomei, who had climbed the wealth rankings by selling off global subsidiaries, to become the youngest person on the list.

Li Xiaomei finally realized the danger and began investigating Chu Qiao thoroughly. What she discovered shocked her: this was none other than the Chu family scion she had failed to eliminate years ago.

Sensing the threat, Li Xiaomei scrambled to win over allies, hoping to have them boycott Chu Qiao within the industry. But merchants are driven by profit; they serve whoever pays the most. Chu Qiao had anticipated this move and had long since secured the loyalty of key players.

Left isolated and without support, Li Xiaomei belatedly tried to focus on managing the company. But the Chu family’s business was already riddled with problems, beyond salvation even for a divine savior.

Chu Qiao could have dealt a fatal blow to the Chu family, but she didn’t. Instead, she toyed with Li Xiaomei, giving her small, pointed warnings whenever she thought she’d been spared, ensuring she could never let her guard down.

For two grueling years, they clashed until the Chu family’s business finally collapsed into bankruptcy.

On the day of liquidation, Chu Qiao returned to Linjiang, the place of her birth.

Returning to her homeland stirred a peculiar feeling within her. It was neither good nor bad, just a sense of indifference. In the years since leaving Le Yi behind, she had lived a life devoid of joy or sorrow.

Upon her return, Chu Qiao didn’t immediately go to Li Xiaomei to reclaim the Chu family ancestral home. Instead, she went to the slums, the place where she first met Le Yi.

Ten years had passed, and the place had completely changed. Chu Qiao couldn’t even remember where she had hidden back then.

Everything had changed.

Chu Qiao looked up at the sky. It was a bright spring day, the sky a pristine blue without a single cloud.

Chu Ji leaned against the car, smoking. Two girls approached shyly, urging each other to speak first.

Chu Ji confidently spoke up: “Ladies, can I help you?”

He put on his best, self-assured act, cigarette dangling from his lips, head tilted lazily as he looked at them with a careless, almost arrogant air.

The girls froze, exchanged a glance, and saw mutual disdain in each other’s eyes.

Chu Qiao walked over and said to Chu Ji, “Let’s go.”

One of the girls blushed and mustered the courage to ask, “Hello, could I have your contact information?”

Chu Qiao stared at her for a moment, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips. “Of course.”

She then swiftly entered a string of phone numbers.

“It’s the same number on WeChat.”

With that, she waved at them and settled into the passenger seat.

The two women shared their delight as Chu Ji pressed the accelerator, sending the black Maybach roaring away.

As they drove, Chu Ji expressed his displeasure. “Always stealing my limelight! Next time we go out, you’re wearing a dress!”

Chu Qiao was dressed in a summer ensemble from a high-end fashion brand, a gift from a business partner. Her striking features made any outfit look stunning. She had cut her long hair short two years ago, finding it too cumbersome, and had maintained the sleek, short cut ever since. Her chiseled features, paired with her long legs, slender waist, and cool demeanor, gave her an androgynous allure that, while not attracting men, certainly drew attention from women.

Over the past two years, many women had asked for her contact information, and she had always obliged, providing them with a string of phone numbers.

Chu Ji pressed further, “Did you give them the same number?”

Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Le Yi was typing away at a bubble tea shop when her phone vibrated. Seeing the adorable nickname of the caller, she knew: another job was coming through.

After accepting the friend request, a cute emoji greeted her from the other end.

Sister, hello! I’m the one who added you on WeChat at noon. My name is Xiao Xiao.

Le Yi paused her typing and began chatting back and forth with this girl named Xiao Xiao.

For the past two years, ever since the conference, she’d occasionally receive friend requests from unfamiliar numbers. At first, she ignored them. But one day, a verification message read:

Senior Chu Qiao, hello! I’m the freshman who asked for your contact information today. Please add me.

That’s when Le Yi understood the situation.

Chu Qiao was pushing the girls who pursued her onto Le Yi, whether to have her help refuse them or because she wasn’t good at chatting and wanted Le Yi to handle it.

From then on, she started accepting all stranger requests, acting like a customer service rep to deal with Chu Qiao’s suitors.

“Sister, your personality is so interesting. It’s a little different from what I imagined,” Xiao Xiao remarked.

Le Yi asked, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Xiao Xiao replied, “It’s great! I love interesting souls. Let’s chat again tomorrow, Sister.”

Le Yi said goodbye to her, feeling somewhat disconnected from the emotions she had just expressed in her writing.

After moving here, she rented a house in town and suddenly began her writing journey one day.

Unable to find stories to her liking, she started carving her own path, not for money, but for the joy of it.

Moutang’s readers were just like her—old perverts at heart. Their shared tastes brought them together, and some even formed a group chat where they chatted daily, making life quite entertaining.

Four years flew by, and Chu Qiao was about to graduate from university.

I wonder what she’s become now.

For over a year, she rarely appeared in public. Even when campus photographers snapped photos, they only managed to capture her profile, never her full face.

Le Yi closed her laptop, gazing at the beautiful scenery outside with a smile.

Perhaps I’ll be able to leave this world soon.

Before leaving, I should go see the little wolf pup one last time.

No, she’s not a little pup anymore. She’s grown into a big wolf now.

Li Xiao never expected Chu Qiao to come find her. Staring at the face before her, which bore a striking 56% resemblance to Chu Zhinan’s, her expression grew complicated.

“Surprised?” Chu Qiao’s voice was calm.

Li Xiaomei knew this wasn’t a social visit. She cut straight to the point: “What do you want from me?”

Chu Qiao had spent years honing her composure, mastering the art of concealing her emotions. Even now, facing the woman she’d hated for so long, she remained utterly composed.

“I do have a purpose. After all, we’re not exactly friends who can have a peaceful cup of coffee together.”

Li Xiaomei scoffed, waiting for her to continue.

“The Chu family is bankrupt. Your money probably isn’t enough to cover the debt, right?”

Li Xiaomei’s expression stiffened, and a smirk played on Chu Qiao’s lips.

“Don’t get angry yet. Let me finish before you start throwing a fit.”

Chu Qiao’s smile widened, but her eyes remained cold and detached.

“You used to have a partnership with Feiyue, with a deadline at the end of the month. But it’s already mid-month, and the Chu family can barely keep their own affairs in order. They’ll probably fail to meet the deadline, won’t they?”

Li Xiaomei raised her voice. “When did we ever partner with your company?”

Chu Qiao spoke calmly, unhurried: “Zhang Zhao signed the contract. What? You didn’t know? To think he kept such a major matter from you—it seems your relationship isn’t as strong as I thought.”

Zhang Zhao was Li Xiaomei’s lover, and the two had been all smiles but harboring resentment for some time. Chu Qiao deliberately targeted him as a weak point, a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy. It would not only permanently cripple Li Xiaomei but also deliver a crushing psychological blow.

Li Xiaomei’s expression froze. “How is that possible? How is that possible?!”

“Why don’t you ask him? But CEO Li better prepare the breach penalty—five hundred million. One cent less, and we’ll see you in court.”

Chu Qiao took a delicate sip of coffee, rose gracefully, and smiled warmly.

This was just the first step.

There would be a second step, a third step…

She would grind Li Xiaomei into the mud, leaving her neither living nor dying, all to appease the spirits of her parents in heaven.

Li Xiaomei, your hell has begun. Enjoy it.

Chu Qiao strode out of the café, her long legs striding purposefully. The gentle spring sun warmed her skin.

Spring had blossomed, the sun shone brightly. It was time.

Le Yi took her time packing, saying goodbye to her friendly neighbors and the owner of her favorite bubble tea shop, preparing to leave the next afternoon.

She declined the shop owner’s invitation to grab a meal and strolled home from the flower shop, humming cheerfully, completely unaware that someone was following her.

After chatting with acquaintances along the way, she arrived home as the sky was darkening.

She pulled out her key and opened the door, startled by the sight inside.

Chu Qiao sat on the sofa, smiling. “Long time no see, Sister.”

Le Yi froze, her feet feeling heavy as lead, unable to move.

Chu Qiao approached slowly. Though she was smiling, her presence sent a chill down Le Yi’s spine.

“Sister doesn’t welcome me anymore? I’ve missed you so much.”

Before Le Yi could speak, Chu Qiao dragged her into the house.

Chu Qiao gripped her chin, her gaze dark and obsessive.

“It seems you’ve grown unfamiliar with me, Sister. I need to find a way to make you remember me.”

With those words, she forcefully kissed her, her lips carrying a cool, almost metallic taste. The kiss was brutal and domineering, like a beast tearing into its prey.

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