Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 12

Although Qi Zheng kept her head lowered, people’s instincts could sometimes be uncanny—she could distinctly sense the aura radiating from Shen Zhibing. To be precise, it was anger. It wasn’t the first time Shen Zhibing had been upset in front of her, but what puzzled Qi Zheng was: why? A moment ago Shen Zhibing had been perfectly calm, and then just one phone call made her furious?

Shen Zhibing sat back down. The dishes had already been cleared, and a servant brought her a glass of soy milk she often drank. Qi Zheng also put down her chopsticks, though she never once looked her way. Shen Zhibing crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, just staring at her.

Qi Zheng disliked such heavy atmospheres. She much preferred to lay things out plainly.

“President Shen, don’t you have to go to the office today?” she asked. After all, Shen Zhibing thought eight o’clock was already too late to get up. Now it was nearly nine, yet she was still sitting here?

“Are you hoping I’ll leave?”

Qi Zheng was at a loss for words. This was Shen Zhibing’s villa. Even if she was allowed to stay here, it wasn’t her place to decide whether Shen Zhibing stayed or left.

“I don’t mind either way. I was just worried you might lose track of time after that phone call.”

Shen Zhibing had just been wondering how to bring up this topic. Since Qi Zheng mentioned it herself, she smoothly followed up.

“You answered my phone last night?”

Qi Zheng immediately realized that the call just now had been from Lian Ao. She hadn’t even had the chance to explain before he went and tattled first.

She knew perfectly well what kind of man Lian Ao was—too bad Shen Zhibing didn’t.

“You’d already fallen asleep. I was worried the ringing might disturb you, so I answered it.”

Shen Zhibing’s expression was unreadable. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

Qi Zheng was about to explain, when Shen Zhibing cut her off: “So if I hadn’t asked, you wouldn’t have told me at all?”

“I just thought—it was only a phone call, not important enough. If it were serious, the caller would have had me wake you right then. If it wasn’t, then they’d call again today, or another day.”

See? Didn’t Lian Ao just call again today?

Qi Zheng’s reasoning was logical, and Shen Zhibing couldn’t blame her too harshly. But what Shen Zhibing cared about wasn’t the call itself—it was whether Qi Zheng had noticed anything.

“From now on, without my permission, don’t touch my things. Especially my phone—you’re not allowed to answer it casually.”

Qi Zheng agreed readily: “Alright, no problem.”

Fine. Next time your phone rings until it dies, I won’t lift a finger.

Still, she thought to herself, a playboy like Lian Ao wasn’t suited for a serious relationship. Shen Zhibing might have a temper, but she wasn’t a bad person. Since Qi Zheng was living in her house, eating her food, and even riding around in her Bentley, she couldn’t just sit by and watch her walk into disaster.

“President Shen, there’s actually something I’ve always been curious about.”

“Go on.”

Qi Zheng hesitated, but decided to drop her a hint. Shen Zhibing was smart—surely she’d understand.

“You agreed to help me annoy Lin Muyun, but what do you get out of it? You once said you also had someone you wanted to provoke. Who was it, that you’d go to all this trouble?”

Shen Zhibing had been planning to head to the office, but at those words she naturally lost all thought of leaving.

She smiled with hidden meaning. “Do you really need to ask? You want to provoke Lin Muyun; the person I want to stir up isn’t so different. Only thing is, I worry your impact won’t be strong enough.”

Aside from a vague resemblance in facial features, Qi Zheng and Lian Ao had little in common—let alone advantages. Sometimes Shen Zhibing thought herself ridiculous, even mad, to have come up with such a plan.

Her true intent was to spur Qi Zheng, to ignite her fighting spirit and make her more cooperative. Shen Zhibing already had a plan to “reshape” Qi Zheng. Since she meant to use her as leverage against Lian Ao, she’d have to polish her until she shone.

Qi Zheng, however, nodded in full agreement: “I think so too. I might not be the right person to help you much.”

So maybe we can talk about dissolving this arrangement amicably? The unlimited card you gave me—I never used it. And as for the job placement, housing, and living expenses promised in the contract after graduation, I don’t intend to take advantage of those either.

I have ability and brains. I’m confident I can find a stable job on my own. Even if the starting point isn’t high, at least it’ll be earned with my own effort.

Shen Zhibing froze for a moment, disappointment stirring in her chest. Even this much pressure couldn’t spark her will to fight? Was Lin Muyun the only trigger that could move her?

It wasn’t impossible—Shen Zhibing just hated the thought of admitting her offer didn’t measure up to Lin Muyun’s.

For once, Shen didn’t lash out, nor did she dismiss her. Instead, she said with faint encouragement: “It doesn’t matter if you can’t help right now. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort, I’ll give you opportunities—enough for you to become someone radiant. Then you won’t need to worry about being useless. You should have more faith in yourself.”

Qi Zheng sneered inwardly. As if she didn’t know how the story played out? The original Qi Zheng had been too obedient, molded and pampered into a delicate songbird in a gilded cage. And in the end? She was discarded the moment she lost her use.

No. A person had to be self-reliant. Outwardly she agreed, but inside she never abandoned her plan to break free from Shen Zhibing.

“Sounds like the one you want to provoke must be a truly extraordinary figure.”

Shen Zhibing studied her, but didn’t answer directly. She would never so easily speak Lian Ao’s name—not especially to a Qi Zheng who wasn’t yet obedient.

“There’s no rush. You’ll find out in time.”

Qi Zheng thought, I’m not the one in a rush—you are. Keep being so obsessed, and your whole company will be conned.

“Honestly, President Shen, you’re beautiful, wealthy, and could have your pick of partners. Why tie yourself to just one tree? Unlike me, with my ordinary talents and limited options. Sometimes taking a step back doesn’t just open up the seas—it might reveal the entire universe.”

Shen Zhibing gave her an amused look. “So what you’re suggesting is that I become some kind of playboy? Surrounded by a harem of three thousand?”

Qi Zheng knew full well Shen Zhibing wasn’t capable of that. In matters of love, she was stubborn to the point of obsession—so fiercely devoted it was both moving and suffocating.

“I only hope you won’t make things too hard on yourself. Don’t cling too tightly.”

Those words made Shen Zhibing feel exposed, seen through. It was both uncomfortable and unsettling. In her mind, Qi Zheng had no standing to lecture her on such matters.

“Don’t you think you’ve overstepped? This isn’t something you should be meddling in.”

Her voice cooled instantly, her demeanor once again icy and distant. If Qi Zheng hadn’t already been familiar with her temperament, she might have lost her temper right there.

But even the most patient person had their limits. Luckily, Jiang Youyou’s phone call came just in time.

“Qi Zheng, are you at school today? Yesterday you mentioned you had questions about the contract. I’m free now.”

“Me? I’m not there right this moment, but I’ll be back soon.”

Jiang Youyou clearly hadn’t expected Qi Zheng to be anywhere but campus—normally she was always holed up in the dorms. Maybe she’d gone out to interviews under the counselor’s pressure?

“I’ll be there before noon. Let’s have lunch together.”

Judging by Jiang Youyou’s lively tone, she seemed to be recovering well. Qi Zheng appreciated that—scumbags should be tossed quickly; once you’ve cried and raged, just move on. She couldn’t help glancing at Shen Zhibing, thinking President Shen could stand to learn a thing or two from Jiang Youyou.

The dining room was quiet, and Jiang Youyou’s sharp, excited voice carried clearly into Shen Zhibing’s ears—irritating her.

Not because of Jiang Youyou herself, but because Qi Zheng had so casually accepted someone else’s invitation right in front of her, without so much as consulting her.

Qi Zheng hung up, surprised to find Shen Zhibing still sitting there. Past nine already, and still no hurry to go to work.

“My classmate asked me to lunch. I’ll head back to school later.” Since you’re not leaving, I’ll just go first.

Shen Zhibing nodded silently, and Qi Zheng left.

Afterward, Shen Zhibing summoned Aunt Xin. “Find a few trainers for Qi Zheng as soon as possible.”

“What areas should they cover?”

Shen Zhibing frowned, then said, “Etiquette, personality development, and also work skills. All of it.”

Qi Zheng was about to graduate. As agreed, Shen Zhibing would arrange a job for her at the Shen Group. Back then, Qi Zheng hadn’t specified any particular role, only that it must not be inferior to Lin Muyun’s position at her own company.

Shen Zhibing had no intention of placing her somewhere out of sight—what if she ran her mouth and exposed their arrangement? That would only cause problems.

“Third Miss, are you planning to bring Miss Qi into the company?”

“She’s not qualified yet. She can go once her training is complete.” Shen Zhibing would keep her promise, but only if Qi Zheng measured up.

Aunt Xin, however, didn’t think Qi Zheng was as inadequate as Shen claimed.

“Miss Qi is actually a very nice person—always polite and courteous with us, and even-tempered. Last night, when you weren’t feeling well, she had the kitchen prepare food for you. After you fell asleep, she told me to rest while she sat in your room for hours, just in case you woke and needed someone.”

Shen Zhibing hadn’t known this. Hearing it, she seemed almost doubtful.

“She stayed with me?”

“Yes. She said she didn’t want you to wake up sick and alone, and she told me staying up too late wasn’t good for me—insisted she’d handle it herself. Though I didn’t actually sleep either, not until she came out of your room.”

Shen Zhibing realized that Qi Zheng had had every chance to bring this up earlier, yet hadn’t mentioned a word.

“I understand. Go ahead and find the trainers. And also, prepare some suitable clothes for her.”

Qi Zheng had gone back to school still wearing yesterday’s outfit—something Shen Zhibing found unsatisfactory.

“And Miss Qi’s room—where should I put her clothes?”

Shen Zhibing thought for a moment. “Hang them in my room for now. Clear out half my closet for her.”