Chapter 67: Auntie, I Don’t Want to Try Anymore (13)

The way she called her “sister” gave Liang Yin goosebumps. Without a second thought, she rejected Yu Liuxue. A little heartbreaker being so nice without a reason—either seduction or scheming. Now she’s acting so soft in front of her, who knows what dirty tricks she’s cooking up again?

Liang Yin had already suffered several losses at Yu Liuxue’s hands. As a competent career woman, she absolutely refused to trip over this girl again. Liang Yin slowly set down her wine glass. “If you have something to say, just say it here.”

Failing to seduce Liang Yin didn’t discourage Yu Liuxue—in fact, it secretly delighted her. She smugly told the system, “Test complete. Auntie Liang is clearly no longer interested in me. If she still had feelings, how come I failed to seduce her so many times?”

Since Liang Yin didn’t love her, the only thing left was hate. That thought dimmed Yu Liuxue’s mood. After being rejected, a trace of disappointment crossed her face. She lowered her head and sighed helplessly. “Alright then.”

From Liang Yin’s angle, the pale skin on the back of Yu Liuxue’s neck was fully exposed. Even from such a tricky angle, the snowy whiteness of her skin and the contours of her bones remained seductive. Liang Yin narrowed her eyes, calculating just what exactly Yu Liuxue wanted by going to such lengths to tempt her.

Money? Qingru had already given her some. Love? Talking about “love” with a little heartbreaker like this was like playing a lute to a cow—completely pointless, even more absurd than the sun rising in the west.

The more Liang Yin thought, the more suspicious she became. She discreetly observed Yu Liuxue’s expression, the disappointment in her eyes, the way her full, cherry-red lips slightly pressed downward. After a long while, Liang Yin still couldn’t figure her out. All she could conclude was that this little vixen was truly a born troublemaker—just her looks alone could make anyone fall into her hands and be toyed with.

Yu Liuxue drooped, clearly dispirited. Her tone grew subdued. “Auntie Liang, I really hope we can resolve our misunderstandings, bury the hatchet, and get back to the way we were.”

Liang Yin let out a timely sneer. “The way we were? You mean mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” I’ve been wronged!

She immediately straightened up, seriously explaining, “Auntie Liang, I swear I have no lingering feelings for Qin Feng. He was just someone I foolishly liked back then. Even if I were dating a puppy now, I still wouldn’t go back to him.”

“Auntie Liang, you have to believe me on this.”

Just then, Qin Feng—who had rushed over with Guo Zao—felt as if he’d been stabbed right in the knee. He stopped in his tracks and clenched his teeth tightly. Guo Zao, on the other hand, couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. So Manager Qiao didn’t like Qin Feng anymore—great! Now she could invite her out for meals and shopping with no worries.

Liang Yin caught a glimpse of her son, but pretended not to see him. “Oh?”

Afraid Liang Yin wouldn’t believe her, Yu Liuxue quickly raised four fingers. “Auntie Liang, I swear, if I ever try to get back with Qin Feng, I’ll get hit by a car the moment I step out the door.”

Liang Yin: “……”

Yu Liuxue pressed her advantage. “So, Auntie Liang, now that we’ve cleared up the misunderstandings, can we maybe wipe the slate clean? I honestly don’t think there’s any deep hatred between us, but every time you see me, your eyes are so scary. I’m too afraid to even come near you…”

“I’ll be around President Liu a lot from now on. When I see you then, I’ll—”

“Enough, enough,” Liang Yin impatiently cut her off. Her mood had clearly been fine moments ago, but Yu Liuxue’s chattering somehow made her irritable. Liang Yin didn’t want to talk anymore. Coldly and ruthlessly, she turned to leave. Seeing that Yu Liuxue still wanted to speak and had no intention of leaving, she simply turned away so she wouldn’t have to look at her.

Watching Liang Yin avoid her like the plague, Yu Liuxue said heartbreakingly, “System, I’ve never been hated like this before.”

The system mercilessly exposed her lie. “You have. The male lead.”

Yu Liuxue: “……”

Still, at least the Liang Yin issue was settled. Yu Liuxue felt pretty good overall. But just as she lifted her foot to leave, Qin Feng blocked her path. She’d been planning to find him anyway, but now that he came to her, she beat him to the punch: “Qin Feng, I don’t like you anymore. You’d better stay far away from me. Don’t come near me again, or I’ll have my girlfriend beat you up.”

Yu Liuxue planted her hands on her hips, speaking with righteous arrogance: “You know who my girlfriend is? President Liu. Liu Qingru. Auntie Liu, the one who watched you grow up.”

Qin Feng: “……” Crawl away.

After dropping her bomb, Yu Liuxue ran off, completely unaware of the massive shadow her words had cast over the male lead. It left Qin Feng in a daze for days. But even if she’d known, Yu Liuxue wouldn’t have cared. After Liang Yin walked away, Yu Liuxue wandered the crowd aimlessly, exchanging contact info here and there, throwing flirtatious glances left and right, successfully stealing countless hearts—both male and female.

Her ease and confidence made some seasoned observers shake their heads and sigh. So President Liu liked this kind of seductive vixen? Well, why didn’t she say so earlier? They could’ve offered up a dozen of those—each one better than Qiao Ruo.

When Liu Qingru returned from her meeting and couldn’t find Yu Liuxue anywhere, it wasn’t until she reached the parking lot that she spotted her curled up and sleeping alone against the car window. Liu Qingru softened her steps, slowly approaching. She leaned down, her gaze sweeping over Yu Liuxue’s delicate sleeping face.

Even asleep, she was breathtaking.

Unlike her usual sly self, there was a rare hint of innocence. Liu Qingru knew Qiao Ruo had come from a humble background, yet every gesture and movement exuded the aura of a pampered heiress. Especially when she dressed up—she truly shone like a dazzling moon, impossible to look away from.

When Yu Liuxue woke up, she was already in bed. She blinked in confusion, only to see Liu Qingru walking out of the bathroom, hair still damp. The moment Liu Qingru saw her eyes open, she put down her towel and strode straight toward her.

Yu Liuxue instinctively dove under the covers, her voice trembling. “President Liu…?”

Liu Qingru pulled her out and kissed her forcefully. Yu Liuxue whimpered, forced to endure it all. Clutching the bedsheet tightly, she thought bitterly that the old saying was right—there’s no escaping fate. She couldn’t help but cry out, then turned back tearfully to beg, “President Liu, go easy…”

Liu Qingru softened for half a minute—then suddenly picked up the pace again.

With nothing urgent going on lately, everyone returned to their usual 9-to-5 routines. Those who had work went to work. Those on business trips departed. Those who needed rest stayed in bed to recover. Yu Liuxue lay miserably on the couch, not going anywhere, while the system kept her entertained by giving detailed updates on the male and female leads.

That day, Qin Feng was crushed by her rejection. When he got back, he fell into a bit of a slump. But Liang Yin quickly assigned him more tasks, and between business trips and meetings, his body started to give out in less than half a month. Sitting in the car, Qin Feng’s gaze drifted toward a neglected Switch nearby.

Yu Liuxue had given it to him to celebrate his first job. Though just seeing the Switch reminded him of his infuriating ex-girlfriend, the console itself was innocent—no grudge between them…

Compelled by some impulse, Qin Feng picked it up and played a round—and couldn’t stop.

He brought the console home, packed it when traveling for work, and played whenever he was stressed, annoyed, or bored. It was both fun and therapeutic. Hearing this, Yu Liuxue couldn’t help but interject, “If this keeps up, the male lead’s doomed.”

Compared to gaming-addicted Qin Feng, Guo Zao was far more hardworking. No matter how hard Liang Yin made things for her, she endured in silence. Even when pulling all-nighters, she gritted her teeth and completed every task flawlessly. Liang Yin was surprised—she even briefly suspected Guo Zao of trying to seize her assets.

But one look at Guo Zao’s sweet, clueless face, and Liang Yin quickly dismissed the thought.

Guo Zao’s hard work was obvious to everyone. Gradually, the gossip in the office quieted down, and more and more people were willing to talk to her or eat with her. Eventually, even some of the male colleagues from other departments began subtly expressing their interest in her. However, Guo Zao turned all of them down directly, saying she only wanted to focus on work for the time being.

When Qin Feng heard about this, he was naturally upset. He immediately went to find Guo Zao to confront her, but she looked exhausted and said weakly, “Qin Feng, please don’t make a fuss. I haven’t finished my work yet. Whatever it is, wait until I’m done, okay?”

Her tone made Qin Feng feel like he was a petulant child throwing a tantrum.

Just then, Qin Feng’s secretary happened to witness their exchange. Her eyes lit up, and when Qin Feng returned, she deliberately clung to him in a soft, flirtatious way and whispered near his ear, “Young Master Qin, our department is having a dinner after work. Will you join us?”

She said this deliberately for Guo Zao to hear—Guo Zao was right nearby—but Guo Zao didn’t even blink.

Feeling completely ignored by his girlfriend, Qin Feng instantly flared up. Acting on impulse, he wrapped his arm around the secretary’s waist and agreed, “Sure, and after dinner, I’ll treat everyone to drinks at a bar.”

Qin Feng hadn’t stepped into a bar for nearly a year. Ever since he got together with Guo Zao, he had quit those habits because she didn’t like them. So when he agreed to go this time, Guo Zao finally reacted—she looked up at him. Qin Feng glanced back at her indifferently, and after a moment of eye contact, she just gave him a flat look and turned away. This made Qin Feng deeply dissatisfied.

Didn’t she always object to him going to messy places like that? Why didn’t she say a word now, even when he was heading out drinking with another woman?

Was there room for anything besides work in her heart now—even him, her boyfriend? The more Qin Feng thought about it, the angrier he got. So when the workday ended, he followed through, taking the secretary and gathering the whole department to head out for dinner. He wanted to provoke Guo Zao, to force her to pay more attention to him.

But Guo Zao had become an emotionless work machine. She had fully accepted that marrying Qin Feng wouldn’t help her father make a comeback—but gaining Liang Yin’s approval might. So her mind was completely occupied with how to beautifully complete the tasks assigned by Liang Yin and earn her praise.

Yet the harder she worked, the more displeased Liang Yin seemed. Even though Guo Zao was already doing a good job, Liang Yin still nitpicked, finding fault with everything. After one particularly harsh scolding, Guo Zao retreated into the restroom and messaged Yu Liuxue, “Manager Qiao, you were right. Auntie really is a harsh and mean mother-in-law.”

Yu Liuxue laughed out loud. She hadn’t seen the heroine in a while, and now that her back was feeling a bit better, she eagerly invited Guo Zao, “Xiao Guo, let’s have dinner together tomorrow night?”

Guo Zao’s eyes lit up and she quickly agreed.

She’d been wanting to vent to Yu Liuxue for ages but had been too self-conscious and guilty to reach out first. Now that Yu Liuxue had invited her, she was so happy she nearly jumped for joy.

The next day, Yu Liuxue dressed simply, while Guo Zao made a special trip home after work to wash her hair and take a shower. She put on a face mask, carefully applied hair oil, and used a curling wand to style her hair into soft chestnut curls. After that, she picked out a beautiful outfit and applied a flawless natural-looking makeup. Once everything was done, she nervously took a cab to the meeting spot.

She was full of anticipation—how would Manager Qiao react upon seeing her tonight?

Yu Liuxue was momentarily stunned when she first saw Guo Zao. She instinctively asked her system, “Is it just me, or does the heroine look… prettier?”

She no longer had that naive sweet-girl look. Instead, she had a faintly sultry and mature aura, like a little wildcat.

Seeing Yu Liuxue’s reaction, Guo Zao grew even more excited, filled with a deep and satisfying sense of joy. She shyly bit her lip, held her breath, and nervously walked over, softly saying, “Manager Qiao…”

Yu Liuxue snapped out of it and smiled. “Have a seat.”

After sitting down, Guo Zao blushed and kept her head down. Yu Liuxue tried to keep the conversation light, talking about work. The moment work was mentioned, Guo Zao became chatty, going on and on. Even after dinner was finished, she still seemed unsatisfied.

Then Guo Zao made a bold offer. “Manager Qiao, since you’re not feeling well… how about I take you home?”

Yu Liuxue thought about how she hadn’t yet succeeded in brainwashing the heroine today, so she nodded and agreed. In the taxi, she casually brought up Qin Feng. Guo Zao’s brows furrowed at the name. With a serious look, she said, “Manager Qiao, you’re absolutely right. No man in this world can be relied on.”

“Instead of pinning my hopes on Qin Feng, I’d rather rely on myself. If one day I can earn a million a year, even without Auntie Liang’s help, I could support my parents, keep them from suffering, and ensure they have a decent life.”

She spoke earnestly, and Yu Liuxue raised her brows in surprise. How was this heroine so easy to guide? One conversation and she saw the light. Guo Zao’s transformation left Yu Liuxue very satisfied. After they got out of the car, Guo Zao stood by the road, her gaze flickering as she looked at Yu Liuxue’s face.

Some thoughts were pushing their way out, and after biting her lip, she finally gathered her courage and asked, “Manager Qiao…”

“Can I call you Ruoruo from now on?” When she saw Yu Liuxue look at her in confusion, Guo Zao’s face turned red and she quickly explained, “No, I mean—I just think we’re already friends, so calling you ‘Manager Qiao’ feels a bit too formal…”

“Sure,” Yu Liuxue replied.

Guo Zao: “Huh?” Really?

Yu Liuxue smiled. “It’s just a name. You can call me whatever you like.”

Fireworks seemed to explode in Guo Zao’s heart, making her feel light as air, as though she were floating on cotton. With Yu Liuxue’s permission, Guo Zao blushed, her eyes tracing her slender yet curvaceous figure—soft where it should be, slim where it needed to be, not an ounce of extra fat.

Her mouth suddenly felt dry.

As Yu Liuxue was about to leave, Guo Zao summoned her courage again. “Then… Ruoruo…”

Yu Liuxue turned back. Guo Zao looked into her eyes and asked hopefully, “Can I hug you? If it’s not convenient…”

Yu Liuxue blinked a few times, didn’t think much of it, and gave her a hug. She even reached out to stroke Guo Zao’s hair, leaning in close and teasingly whispered, “It’s convenient. You can hug me as many times as you want. If you feel like hugging me, just say so. Don’t be shy, okay?”

Guo Zao nodded obediently. Yu Liuxue smiled in satisfaction and let go—but as she turned around, she suddenly saw Liu Qingru and Liang Yin standing not far away, staring at her expressionlessly.

In the darkness, the two of them looked like jealous wives catching someone in the act, their eyes full of murderous intent as if they were ready to throw her into a pig cage.

Yu Liuxue shivered all over. “…”

I think I might still be able to salvage this.