Chapter 107: Backing

Wang Zheng’s life has become increasingly restless ever since he acquired his car. Su Xue and Chu Jun seem to have become addicted to it; not only do they demand that Wang Zheng pick them up every day, but they also insist on drag racing through the streets of Jinghua City after work, overtaking anyone who catches their eye. Bai Bing is no different in this regard. Although the three women often bicker over who gets to drive, it is clear that their relationship is growing increasingly harmonious.

When they are happy, Wang Zheng is miserable. The direct consequence of their joy is that Wang Zheng’s sleep is being cut shorter and shorter. More than once, he has driven the car home only to have Bai Bing take it to fetch Su Xue and Chu Jun. She would follow his instructions and drive off, but it wouldn't be long before they returned, dragging Wang Zheng into the car by force, claiming, "You’re too lonely at home alone, and as your little sisters, we can't bear it."

One wonders how they ever came up with such a lame excuse. Wang Zheng would much rather stand on his balcony alone, indulging in a bit of voyeurism, than suffer through this ordeal with these women.

It was another morning of sleeping in, and the regulations Wang Zheng had posted for his bathroom had long since become scrap paper, ignored by everyone. He had already developed the habit of taking care of everything at the office.

After dropping Su Xue and Chu Jun off at the television station, Wang Zheng drove to the company, intending to catch up on some sleep. Bai Bing, seeing that there was nothing to do, closed the door and left. A short while later, the white Maserati was seen roaring out of the parking lot downstairs. Watching the car vanish into the street, Wang Zheng, who should have been sleeping but was standing by the window instead, smiled and walked out of his office. To Wang Zheng, although he was an employee of Zhongtian Company, he enjoyed absolute freedom—a fact that was the primary reason Lin Xiaolei’s old guard found him so insufferable.

"He occupies the latrine but doesn't produce anything!"

As for Lin Xiaolei, her decision to let Wang Zheng stay without assigning him any work stemmed from two reasons. First, she wanted to prove something to herself in front of him—though what exactly she was trying to prove, only she knew. Second, burdening Wang Zheng with trivial matters was a waste of his talents. In her eyes, Wang Zheng was her ultimate secret weapon, and she would never ask for his counsel unless absolutely forced to. Therefore, despite the old guard repeatedly bad-mouthing him to her, Lin Xiaolei never paid them any mind.

Wang Zheng left the Yong'an Building, hailed a taxi, handed a slip of paper to the driver, and vanished into the flow of traffic.

An hour later, the taxi pulled up to an ordinary residential complex. The buildings were old and had clearly seen better days. Following the address he had researched, Wang Zheng arrived at the second unit on the third floor and knocked gently.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Click." The door opened, and the woman of the house looked at Wang Zheng with surprise. "How did you know I lived here?" Wang Zheng smiled but did not answer. He stepped directly into the apartment. It was small but kept in meticulous order by the hostess. However, the furnishings were quite dated, clashing with the trendy, sexy appearance of the woman herself.

"It’s hard to imagine that the star anchor of Jinghua City’s entertainment programs lives in such an old place. After following that old geezer for so many years, couldn't you have managed to get a bigger house?" Wang Zheng sat down on a worn-out solid wood chair and looked at Lin Xuan, who stood nearby.

Lin Xuan’s expression darkened, but she still answered.

"I’m no longer with the television station, so I had to return the company housing. This is my family’s old home, the only thing my parents left me when they passed."

Wang Zheng paused, looking up to scan the room, his gaze finally settling on the two memorial portraits hanging on the wall. He realized he had been too confident in his assessment of Lin Xuan; he hadn't even bothered to investigate her background.

"How long has it been?" Wang Zheng asked.

"Eleven years," Lin Xuan replied softly, staring at the portraits.

Eleven years? Wang Zheng was surprised, swallowing involuntarily. Lin Xuan had been living on her own since she was a teenager? Perhaps that was why she understood this society so well, and why she grasped the truth that one must pay a price to get what one wants. Wang Zheng couldn't help but look at her with new eyes. On the table beneath the portraits sat an incense burner with three sticks of incense burning, releasing thin wisps of blue smoke.

Human nature is inherently good. No one is born evil or "cheap"; such qualities are merely the result of hidden hardships.

Wang Zheng stood up, walked to the table, picked up three sticks of incense, and lit them with an old-fashioned match. He bowed three times to the portraits and placed the incense into the burner.

Judging by the items and decor, this had once been a hardworking, honest, and happy home. That, however, was no longer important; the dead deserved respect.

"Rest assured, I will look after your daughter," Wang Zheng said quietly. His attitude toward Lin Xuan had softened with a touch of sympathy and pity. If he had previously labeled her a "cheap woman," he could now drop the "cheap" part.

Hearing this, Lin Xuan didn't know if her future would be one of joy or sorrow, but it seemed this man was at least a thousand times better than that old geezer. She looked at her parents' portraits, composed her grief, hid it deep in her heart, and pulled herself together. She looked at Wang Zheng and asked, "I’ve cut off all my connections. Can you tell me now why you’ve come for me?"

"What if I said..." Wang Zheng drew out his words, watching her expression closely, "...what if I said I wanted you to be my mistress? How would you respond?"

Lin Xuan remained silent, though her eyes stayed fixed on him. She knew her physical assets were tempting to men, but she absolutely did not believe this man had sought her out for that reason alone. Having navigated the world since childhood, her eyes could see deeper, and her mind could think further.

"What? Are you unwilling? I am a thousand, ten thousand times better than that old geezer. At the very least, I won't leave you unsatisfied."

"Did you come here just to say this? Let’s talk about business," Lin Xuan said.

"No rush, no rush," Wang Zheng replied coolly. "By the way, did you slap that old geezer in the face?"

"No... I didn't," Lin Xuan said, stuttering in surprise.

"You’ve already returned everything he bestowed upon you, but he hasn't returned what he took from you. Wouldn't you be at a disadvantage? I don't think you’d be content with that," Wang Zheng said, smiling as he watched her complex expression. "There’s no time like the present. Why don't we have him pay back what he owes you tonight? You are my person now, and I won't allow my people to be bullied by others."

Lin Xuan fell into silence again. It was true: it was only because of that old man that she had managed to climb to where she was in such a fiercely competitive industry. But he had also taken the most important thing from her; he had led her into the abyss step by step. Now, she felt no gratitude toward him—only hatred.

Just a few days ago, when she resigned, he had tried to make advances and even wanted to come to her apartment. Seeing the ugly, cruel face hidden beneath that old skin, Lin Xuan had said "no" for the first time and turned to leave.

"You will regret this," were the last words she heard from the Deputy Director. Would she really regret it? She had staked everything on Wang Zheng. She felt that this man was worth the gamble.

"Don't worry, you have no ties to him anymore, and besides, you have me backing you. What are you afraid of?" Wang Zheng said to her.

It was clear that it wasn't that Lin Xuan didn't want revenge; it was just that she had been bullied by the old man for so long that she wasn't used to the shift in power. Moreover, that old man had his own connections—would there be retaliation? Since she didn't yet know who exactly Wang Zheng was, her hesitation was natural.

"Since you’re not saying anything, I’ll take that as a 'yes'," Wang Zheng said, watching the silent woman. "I’ll come to pick you up tonight. Remember to dress beautifully; don't let me lose face."

Lin Xuan couldn't understand Wang Zheng’s true motives. Even though she was shrewd, she couldn't read him at all. Every move he made was unfathomable. If one looked closely, he even exuded a sense of pressure that made one's heart ache, as if pierced by an awl, making it hard to look him in the eye.

Wang Zheng stood up. It was about time; if he didn't return, who knew what kind of trouble Bai Bing might cause? As he walked toward the door, he said to Lin Xuan, "I’m leaving now. Remember what we discussed for tonight. Oh, and if you want to keep this old place, keep it; if not, sell it. I’ll arrange a new home for you in a few days. As for the things you want, you will get them once you have paid the corresponding price." With that, Wang Zheng leaned in, gave her a lecherous, light kiss on the cheek, and left with a grin.

As Lin Xuan watched his retreating back, she couldn't stop wondering what exactly the price she would have to pay would be.