Chapter Ninety-Four: Let Me Send You to Salvation!

People always like to do things and say things against their own hearts, as if that could hide what lies within them. What they do not know is that this is, in truth, the most foolish thing in the world. The heart exists to guide a person; without it, its existence would be meaningless.

Wang Zheng returned to his desk and sat down, looking at Bai Bing across from him with a pitying gaze. To force oneself into certain things is never wise. Though she was doing her utmost to conceal it, that very concealment only made her more exposed.

Even if Bai Bing tried to steer the conversation toward Lin Xiaolei, it would do no good against Wang Zheng.

"In my eyes, your matter is more important than Lin Xiaolei's," Wang Zheng said, looking at her.

Bai Bing stiffened. The magazine shielding her face lowered a little, revealing a puzzled expression. "Why? Aren't you interested in Lin Xiaolei?"

"Were it not simple," Wang Zheng said with a smile, "it would be because you're closer to me. Lin Xiaolei's existence is not enough to affect my life; I can step into that world whenever I like. But you are different. Your existence directly affects my life. Tell me... am I right?"

Bai Bing unconsciously nodded. What Wang Zheng said did make sense. From the present situation, Lin Xiaolei was nothing more than a pastime for him when he was bored, a way to pass the time. Bai Bing, however, was different. She had already become part of his life, even begun to influence it. But perhaps that was all Bai Bing could do, because she knew that even her own heart had begun to waver. If her own heart was already uncertain, how could she hope to persuade Wang Zheng?

She no longer understood the situation at all. She had clearly come to persuade Wang Zheng, yet his resolve had not shaken in the slightest. Instead, her own determination had, without her noticing, been quietly influenced by him. Bai Bing knew this was not a matter of strong will or weak will; it was that the way of life Wang Zheng had chosen was simply too easy to alter a person. It also had something to do with the dull, tedious life she had lived before. Only by comparison did one realize that this way of living felt easier and happier, and was easier to accept. It was in such an atmosphere that Bai Bing's will and resolve began to crumble.

She knew that if it had not been for what Wang Zheng had said that morning, perhaps she would have fallen even deeper, and might never have awakened again. But for her, even if she had awakened, it seemed to be of little use, because she had no idea what to do next, or how to do it.

Bai Bing had fallen completely into passivity.

It was like someone, knowing nothing of the danger, stumbling by great luck into a minefield. But once she reached the center and was told she was standing in one, she would be left at a loss, terrified beyond measure, too afraid to move. What then? Mines surrounded her on every side. Retreat? Yet there were no footprints behind her to show the way she had come; one wrong step would mean obliteration.

Advance or retreat?

When affection grows over time, love is more dangerous than a mine.

Wang Zheng snapped his fingers, jolting Bai Bing out of her daze. She looked at him in confusion. At that moment, she no longer even knew why she was sitting there.

"I told you before, you can't change me," Wang Zheng said with a smile. "Since you can't change me, why not let me change you instead?"

Bai Bing's reaction had already given Wang Zheng much of what he wanted to know, so even if she said nothing, he could guess exactly what was in her heart. Perhaps, from the very beginning, Wang Zheng had already anticipated that this day would come; everything was within his expectations. He had made Bai Bing relax her guard and lose her vigilance. And before she knew it, Wang Zheng had naturally led her onto another road.

So naturally. So casually. So natural that one did not even notice, so casual that there was nowhere to begin.

Some things do not need to be spoken of every day; perhaps they achieve better results that way.

Wang Zheng was already something of a veteran in the organization. Of the people who had once been with him, only three remained, including himself. The dead were dead; the scattered had scattered. Because of this, Wang Zheng understood the fatal weakness of those who lived within such an organization. How many people could endure a life of tension, severity, and coldness for long? If one reversed the approach and placed such people in a relaxed, joyful environment rich in emotion, who could resist?

Not to mention Bai Bing, a beauty in the most radiant years of a woman's life, standing before Wang Zheng with nothing but flaws all over her.

"I... I won't lose to you," Bai Bing said through gritted teeth. Yet she did not dare meet his eyes. Her words carried not the slightest force.

"Knowing each other this long, have you ever seen me lose?" Wang Zheng said with confidence. "I will not lose."

"At least you lost once with Lin Xiaolei," Bai Bing said, unconvinced. "She didn't do things according to your wishes. Isn't that proof you miscalculated?"

Wang Zheng burst out laughing. Bai Bing's stubborn expression really was rather lovely, though that did not mean her words were correct. He stopped laughing and looked at her. "If Lin Xiaolei did everything exactly as I said, that would be my miscalculation. In my eyes, a woman without character is not even worth my attention. What matters to me is not which road Lin Xiaolei chose, but how she walked the road she chose. That is what concerns me most. From her choice of Zhan Zhongtian to meeting Liu Jin, from their first encounter to last night's drunkenness, everything was within my expectations and within my plan."

"You're bragging. I don't believe it," Bai Bing said. Though she said so, she was already thinking back over the events of these past days. There was no need to mention the distant past; just take last night. She had tried several times to stop Lin Xiaolei, but Wang Zheng had blocked her each time. And when Wang Zheng finally agreed, everything happened at exactly the right moment.

In truth, not only Lin Xiaolei's matter but even Bai Bing's own situation had been placed within Wang Zheng's plan. Otherwise, did she really think that Maserati had been bought for her? Of course, in a sense, one could say that too. Wang Zheng should let Bai Bing see the excited smile she wore after that morning's drive, because that smile was filled with delight in this life of hers, making her completely forget the purpose for which she had come to stand beside him.

Wang Zheng was not a philanthropist. He was merely testing Bai Bing. If diamonds could not move her, then he would use a luxury car.

Of course, he could not tell Bai Bing that. If she knew, would she not leave at once?

Bai Bing's accusation of bragging did not make Wang Zheng refute it. He only met her with a smile. Because by now Bai Bing had lost even the most basic composure; she could no longer think calmly, nor judge calmly. One could say that, at present, she was relying only on the stubbornness and sharp tongue left in her nature to fight Wang Zheng. Bai Bing herself knew such a struggle was futile, but all of it was vanity at work.

"Why aren't you speaking? Did I strike a nerve?" Bai Bing asked, staring at Wang Zheng. For her, she would rather hear him speak than see the smile on his face. It was the kind of smile the Buddha might wear when looking at the Monkey King: profound, inscrutable, and somehow making one feel utterly ashamed.

"You're flustered," Wang Zheng said lightly.

"I am not! You're the one who's flustered!" Bai Bing said stubbornly, though her face did not look well at all.

The duck that has been cooked has nothing left but a hard mouth.

"Fine, then I'm flustered," Wang Zheng said with a nod.

"You..." Bai Bing was even more unsettled by Wang Zheng's calm ease. For her, the air in the room seemed to grow tense because of him, oppressive because of him. Suddenly she stood up, shot him a fierce glare, gave a cold snort, and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Just as Bai Bing opened the door, Wang Zheng called out to her.

"What?" Bai Bing asked irritably, turning back. Something flew toward her. She hastily reached out and caught it. Looking down, she saw that it was the key to the Maserati.

"Fill up the tank."

Bai Bing stared for a moment, then nodded toward Wang Zheng. "Got it." With that, she took the car key and left Wang Zheng's office. The instant she closed the door, there was clearly a lightness in her smile.

Wang Zheng knew that Bai Bing must need to vent at this moment, and a drive was the best choice. Besides, after all that had happened that morning, the relationship between them was bound to feel awkward, and Bai Bing would surely be feeling awful inside. Wang Zheng tossing her the car key was undoubtedly the best way to ease the tension between them. Bai Bing was not stupid, of course she understood that, and so she gladly accepted it.

This was the release of a heart.

After all, she truly did like this life.