The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 12

Li Ju was a very possessive person, and she had a bit of a temper. So when the call from Gao Sheng came in, she mocked him with a smirk. “Mr. Gao, your looks are great, and they’re exactly my type. But don’t forget, I’m a businesswoman. The money I invested didn’t just fall from the sky. You’re not my boy toy, and you have no right to squander the company’s value for your own selfish desires. I agree with getting a celebrity spokesperson, but I reject your suggestion.”

Li Ju’s voice was cold and unsentimental.

Gao Sheng saw Li Ju as someone who admired and took special care of him. Her attitude was clear—she was obviously into him. This put him under a lot of pressure, but at the same time, he felt a bit smug. Li Ju’s favoritism proved his charm and appeal to women. This subtle glee meant that Gao Sheng never saw himself as inferior to her.

In his pride, he never imagined that he would be so quickly humbled. The incident where he went into the wrong room had wounded his ego. Li Ju had been so strange that day. Even though she kept smiling, Gao Sheng felt her eyes were distant and filled with a disinterested nonchalance. It was as if he was just an animal seeking a pat on the head. If Li Ju was in a good mood, he’d get a warm smile. If she was in a terrible mood, she’d cruelly cast him aside, not caring whether he lived or died. Her hot-and-cold nature made her mysterious and alluring.

Gao Sheng couldn’t quite figure out his own feelings or what he was even thinking. Whenever he found himself in this predicament, he’d go to the art academy and pretend to run into Tang Qingqing. But the result was always the same: she ignored him. It was as if these two women were simultaneously pulling at his arms, tormenting him.

Finally, his good friend Zhao Zhang gave him an idea: if you don’t know which one to drop, just pursue both. Things would work themselves out. If it really got out of hand, he could always cut his losses. Gao Sheng didn’t agree or disagree; he just took the initiative to call Li Ju today. Li Ju’s ridicule made him seethe. It was that condescending attitude again. He was a person, not her slave!

“Miss Li,” Gao Sheng said calmly, “You’re overthinking it. My company was founded by Zhao Zhang and I. The effort I’ve put in is by no means less than yours. I understand your concerns, but I have a reason for choosing Tang Qingqing.”

Li Ju pretended to be clueless. “What reason? Now that I think about it, I’ve never asked how you two met. Oh, right, you’re a supplier of art materials to the academy, and she’s a teacher there. No wonder you know each other.”

She was too “kind.” Since she couldn’t be bothered to listen to Gao Sheng’s long-winded speech, Li Ju decided to cut him off and get straight to the point.

Gao Sheng looked at his watch and explained in a well-rehearsed manner. “You’re right, meeting her was an accident. We’re friends, but I’m being completely fair. Tang Qingqing is very attractive, and she’s a well-known teacher at the academy. Because of her profession, she’ll understand our products better than any other celebrity and will be able to express that well. I think she’ll bring a pleasant surprise once the ad is finished.”

Li Ju, bored with his monologue, switched the phone to her other ear.

[Host, host! It’s time to unleash your villainous aura again. Based on the current situation, we’ve met the requirements for a certain side plot. Do you agree to let System 666 record this scene?]

Li Ju was used to this by now. Even if she gave up on certain plot points, everyone else in this world was a great actor. Even if she stopped acting, she knew the familiar story would still play out one day. Li Ju casually touched her eyebrow, her voice calm. “Agreed.”

[Yay! We did it!]

[Finally, my little money bag will hear the jingle of falling points.]

[Reminder: Countdown to plot filming has begun!]

[5, 4, 3… 1, Action!]

Gao Sheng’s tone was righteous. He felt he was pouring his heart out for the company and that this profound explanation would move Li Ju. After all, his reasoning was completely sound. He didn’t want his products to be endorsed by a celebrity who just ran through a fast-paced, cookie-cutter shoot; that would go against his company’s original vision.

Li Ju calmly unbuttoned her collar with a slight smile on her face. “I’m starting to think your brain is full of weeds. It’s a miracle your company has survived this long. I must be your savior, right? Instead of bowing down and thanking me, you have the audacity to spout this nonsense. Without my investment, your company wouldn’t survive next spring! You know why I’m cursing you out? What does your company lack right now? Popularity and traffic! And you have the nerve to be picky about celebrities? Where do you get off? Did your confidence make you lose your mind?”

Li Ju’s tirade was exhilarating. After her mockery, she delivered the final blow. Her lips curled into a delightful smile. “You said you have no ulterior motives. What a coincidence, I do. Without my permission, Tang Qingqing will never accept your offer. So just wait for my assistant to arrange a celebrity for you.”

Her tone was so certain, as if everything was already settled. Gao Sheng, unwilling to concede, demanded, “I’ll give Tang Qingqing a huge payment, more than her salary for several months. Plus, this is a great opportunity for her to become famous. Why would she refuse me?”

Li Ju’s smile widened. Her voice, soft and slow, was like torture to Gao Sheng. “Even though I’m annoyed with Tang Qingqing, I’m glad I’ve always spoiled her. It prevents her from being bribed by your paltry offer. And you don’t know her at all. That woman is so proud. If she wanted to be famous, I would have spent the money to make her a top star long ago. Why would she wait for you to give her this ad? She’s not ambitious; she just loves to paint. Being a teacher suits her best.”

As she described Tang Qingqing, many images flashed through her mind. She didn’t have to think about what she knew of her; the words just flowed from her lips. Gao Sheng couldn’t help but wipe the cold sweat from his brow. This woman’s aggression had suddenly ramped up. He frowned and asked, “Miss Li, what do you mean, you’ve always spoiled her? Aren’t you two just simple friends?”

Li Ju seemed amused by his question. She laughed so hard she was shaking, looking incredibly beautiful. Wiping a tear from her eye, she said with a smile, “Who said we’re friends? Our relationship is a tangled mess. It can be whatever you want, as long as you can handle it. I, for one, prefer her to be my little dog, because a dog is the most loyal and obedient, isn’t it?”

She could feel his stunned silence and found it deeply gratifying. Li Ju continued, “Tang Qingqing is my mother’s adopted daughter. Even if her name isn’t on our family registry, I would never mistreat her. You should save your measly money to pay your employees.”

Li Ju felt her strike wasn’t strong enough, so she added with a wicked smile, “Tang Qingqing doesn’t like broke guys. She’s too sensitive and proud. A broke guy wouldn’t be worthy of her.”

Li Ju thought she heard a heart break. She hung up the phone with a stifled laugh. His speechless reaction brought a shower of points from System 666, which was so overjoyed that it rolled around on the materialized points.

[Yay, I got it!]

[It’s not a lot, but I’m not complaining!]

“Tsk.”

[Host, you don’t understand the joy of fleecing someone. You’re a heartless woman.]

Li Ju brushed her bangs aside. “No, I’m a heartless villain.”

Happiness really is built on the suffering of others. Li Ju’s inspiration was suddenly flowing. She needed to get back to the office immediately to paint her ideas before she lost them. However, even in her busyness, she didn’t forget to tell her assistant to handle the spokesperson. She was in charge of two companies and was exhausted. So she wasn’t lazy; she just didn’t have time to follow every small plot line!

The weather outside seemed to mirror Gao Sheng’s mood, with several days of wind and rain. The drops of early winter rain stung as they hit the face, and a bitter cup of coffee was the perfect remedy for the cold.

That day, a woman folded her umbrella and pushed open the door of a café. A handsome man was sitting by the window. His eyes lit up as he watched Tang Qingqing walk toward him. Gao Sheng stiffly stood up and pulled out a chair for her. “Ms. Tang, I thought you were going to stand me up today.”

Tang Qingqing had deliberately come late. Gao Sheng had persistently asked her to meet for coffee, and she wouldn’t have agreed if he hadn’t mentioned Li Ju. Tang Qingqing sat down, her long hair cascading down her back. Her warm coat wrapped around her curves. She was aloof, even the light in her eyes was carefully hidden away. Tang Qingqing ignored his question. She was being rude, and just showing up was an act of kindness.

“I want to know what Li Ju said to you that made you so persistent about meeting me,” Tang Qingqing said.

“What do you want to drink?”

Tang Qingqing looked him in the eye, unflinching. “If you don’t tell me, I’m leaving.”

Gao Sheng sighed and held up his hands in surrender. “Ms. Tang, you truly are the famed Ice Queen of the art academy. You’re so hard to get close to. But I admire your personality. It’s okay to be a little proud, as long as you understand that I’m looking out for you.”

Tang Qingqing sighed as well. Being cold wasn’t her problem; it was that there were too many people in the world who were difficult to communicate with. “I’m not here for your nonsense.”

Gao Sheng frowned in frustration, but when he saw Tang Qingqing’s flawless, expressionless face, his anger suddenly evaporated. He took out his phone and played a recording. Gao Sheng’s expression was serious, his hands clasped on the table. “Ms. Tang, you must have noticed how I feel about you, or you wouldn’t keep avoiding me. I don’t want you to get hurt, and I want you to see Miss Li for who she really is. She might have helped you, but she shouldn’t look down on you, belittle you, or reject my offer without your permission. How could she be so heartless as to call a beautiful woman like you her dog?”

Tang Qingqing had automatically tuned out the man’s angry voice. Her ears were only focused on the woman’s voice in the recording. Li Ju’s every facial expression and inflection came to mind, her voice lazy, casual, and seductive. Tang Qingqing’s ears felt warm, and her heart felt cozy. She wasn’t as foolish as Gao Sheng. She could hear the care hidden in Li Ju’s words. That was just Li Ju—she was always so conflicted.

“Play it again.”

Gao Sheng’s complaints were caught in his throat, and he instinctively pressed play again. This time, Tang Qingqing recorded Li Ju’s voice. A satisfied smile spread across her face. It was sweet and charming. Her sharp edge softened, leaving Gao Sheng mesmerized and astounded.

“Ms. Tang, are you going to confront Miss Li?” Gao Sheng asked. “I’d advise against it. Miss Li is not someone we can afford to offend. For our own sake, I urge you to let this go.”

Tang Qingqing’s eyes were cool, a faint smile on her red lips. “Who said I was going to confront my Little Ju?”

“Then… then you’re not angry? Miss Li cursed you out!”

Tang Qingqing stood up with a smile, looking at the man who was trying to sow discord. She was showing off. “Cursed me out? She clearly loves me!”

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