Yin Xue might not know that her unconscious act of vigilance could truly become the key to cracking the case.
"Has anyone found anything?"
Yun Rou, resting her face in her hands with her eyes closed, sat on the sofa, her posture elegant and languid.
The person in front of her trembled, too scared to even glance at her.
Bowing her head deeply, she wished the person before her had never met her.
Already terrified of the person in power, coming to the country and being taken charge by him made her so nervous she dared not move.
"B-before the changes, no. After everything was cleaned up... then it appeared."
"The sect leader is brilliant, handling the news immediately."
The person didn't know what kind of people the sect leader preferred, so they praised her from the bottom of their heart.
"Mm, no need to be so uptight, I won't eat you," Yun Rou scoffed lightly, speaking slowly as she played with the freshly done nails from her manicurist.
"You can go. I'll notify you if anything comes up. I hope I won't have to wait too long next time."
"Yes." The person's heart skipped a beat. The sect leader was indeed angry about this matter. Thinking about her previous actions, she wished she could dig a hole and bury herself.
Before leaving, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and found the courage to look up at the sect leader.
At this moment, Yun Rou seemed to sense something and lazily raised her head to glance at her.
Despite such a cold gaze, the person felt that she was simultaneously alluring and delicate, aloof and detached.
A hint of subtle indifference was also present.
Her bright eyes were like those of a fox, capable of captivating the heart and inciting wrongdoing.
She thought her gaze and thoughts were brief, unaware that Yun Rou was looking at her with disgust, feeling his gaze linger for almost a minute.
"Is there anything else?" Yun Rou asked coldly, startling the person so much that she felt her life was in danger.
She quickly apologized and fled the room as if escaping.
The moment she stepped out of the room, fresh, clean air entered her nostrils. She felt as if she had been reborn, the decadent atmosphere within having been subtly intoxicating.
She slapped her head hard, muttering curses under her breath.
To dare to offend the sect leader, was she tired of living?
Thinking of the rumors of the sect leader's ruthless methods over the years since taking power, she couldn't help but tremble.
As soon as the person left, Yun Rou retracted her various expressions, a hint of loneliness vaguely visible in her eyes.
"Now that you're gone, no one can match me. They're all overestimating themselves, these fools."
Yun Rou, at thirty-six, had long been aware of her unique position as a woman in such an organization. She had always exercised restraint, yet she still unintentionally exuded things she detested.
She thought about how she had spent years racking her brain for ways to win this position.
Unexpectedly, she was defeated by a mere phrase: "a seductive hussy."
She had lost completely.
She curled her lips, her eyes revealing unreserved sarcasm and disgust.
Although Sheng Ji was ostensibly under her management, she knew all too well that the linchpin of those people was still the founder, old man Feng.
She was merely a shield for Old Man Feng to exert his power.
The subordinates were oblivious, but she was far too clear-headed, seeing through all their foolishness.
However... she would still do what she had to do. She wouldn't confront Old Man Feng, that tough old bone, just for the clear world she desired.
His promise was unimportant; she only wanted freedom.
She clicked her tongue, recalling her past relentless efforts, which at the moment of ascending to this position, had all turned into ironic laughter.
She couldn't help but mock herself.
She picked up her phone and lazily scrolled through the WeChat group for the variety show.
As soon as she entered the group, fawning messages flooded her.
Despite experiencing this scene countless times, she still found it magical, seeing the words as if she could perceive the sincerity or falsity of the senders.
Everyone welcomed her. She glanced at the group members and noticed that Shi Xinxin had not yet sent a message.
She raised an eyebrow. So aloof.
Yun Rou had indeed misunderstood Shi Xinxin. It was now twelve noon, and Shi Xinxin was busy preparing lunch for several people, working her fingers to the bone. She had no time to check WeChat group messages.
However, she had given Sheng Chenjin her phone's lock screen password, asking him to keep an eye on the group's activities.
This was precisely to prevent such situations.
Sheng Chenjin seemed to see the message, but at that moment, the three little ones pulled him into the kitchen, asking him to help their mommy.
Sheng Chenjin, helpless, stood awkwardly in the kitchen, looking at Shi Xinxin who was busy chopping vegetables, unsure how to speak.
Looking back, the three little ones had already disappeared.
"Help me chop vegetables. The soup is almost ready, and I need to watch it."
She glanced at Sheng Chenjin and handed him the knife without hesitation.
And so it was that only when they began to eat did Shi Xinxin pick up her phone and see the messages.
Looking at the intermittent replies, she realized her message had been sent a long time ago.
She thought for a moment, then sent a welcome message.
Almost instantly, Yun Rou added her on WeChat.
"yr requests to add you as a friend."
Shi Xinxin accepted without hesitation.
Now, all that remained was to wait for Yun Rou to make her move. Shi Xinxin wasn't a fortune teller and couldn't predict anything.
[Hello, my name is Yun Rou.]
[Hello, my name is Shi Xinxin.]
Shi Xinxin replied following her template.
Yun Rou chuckled softly. This little girl was quite vigilant.
Yun Rou had no idea that Shi Xinxin already knew her identity.
Her impression of Shi Xinxin was still stuck on the girl who knew no fear, as told to her by Old Man Feng.
[May I ask, what are you doing right now?]
Afterward, she sent a very friendly emoji.
Putting aside her age, Shi Xinxin truly felt they were peers.
What was this? Probing for information? Recording her life, understanding the situation, and then finding an opportunity to attack?
Shi Xinxin shook her head, dismissing the strange thought from her mind.
[Sorry, I was cooking just now, a bit busy and didn't have time to check messages.]
This was not an excuse; Shi Xinxin was telling the truth.
She didn't send any emojis.
[Then you go ahead and be busy. I won't disturb you.]
Upon seeing Yun Rou's message, Shi Xinxin put down her phone, not paying attention to what Yun Rou sent next.
Yun Rou looked at the seemingly perfunctory reply but wasn't angered.
Instead, she touched the corner of her mouth and smiled. This little girl was interesting.
Even her perfunctory attitude was unique.
This moment, it had to be said, piqued Yun Rou's interest in a challenge.
She raised her hand and began typing something before sending it.
After Shi Xinxin finally finished eating and skillfully handed the dishes to Sheng Chenjin to wash, she picked up her phone again and saw a message that struck her as odd.
yr: [Can I call you Xinxin?]
[Can I team up with you during the variety show?]
[Sorry for the many questions, it's just that in all these years, this is the first time I've seen such a special recording format. I'm a bit nervous.]