Chapter 25

Chapter 25: 025 – Kind Xu Shu Jing?

“Jingjing, don’t worry.” Wu Lan forced energy into her voice, clinging to the one thing that still sounded like salvation. “President Xu just called me. He’s back in the country. He’ll arrive in the Capital at noon. Once he’s here, everything will turn around.”

President Xu was the lifeline for both Xu Shu Jing and Wu Lan.

It was why Wu Lan had protected Xu Shu Jing all this time.

It was also the reason Wu Lan had dared to smear Qiao Qing Yan in the first place.

Because behind Xu Shu Jing stood President Xu—a vice president even the company had to obey.

Sure enough, the moment Xu Shu Jing heard President Xu’s name, hope flared in her eyes.

Then, just as quickly, it dimmed.

“Won’t this make things hard for President Xu?” she whispered, guilt wrapping her voice in softness. “After all… this really is my fault. If I hadn’t been so stupid, I wouldn’t have…”

“Silly girl.” Wu Lan’s heart squeezed. “You’re the newcomer the company is pushing hard. In the future, you’ll bring them even more profit. The company will choose you.”

“And President Xu already said the company should take good care of you.”

Xu Shu Jing’s lashes trembled. She looked so young, so wronged.

Wu Lan couldn’t help thinking about how unfair it had always been.

Xu Shu Jing was pretty enough to shine on her own, but because she resembled Qiao Qing Yan, she’d been branded Little Qiao Qing Yan since her debut.

After that, every time Qiao Qing Yan’s dirt exploded online, Xu Shu Jing got dragged into it too.

Yet every time, Xu Shu Jing would just smile and say, “It’s fine. I’m happy to look like Sister Qing Yan. I won’t be sad because of it.”

Such a kind young girl.

So why did this time…

“Jingjing.” Wu Lan’s gaze sharpened. “The person who texted you—was it Qiao Qing Yan?”

Otherwise, why would Qiao Qing Yan, who should’ve been the one inside… end up being her instead?

Xu Shu Jing bit her lip and lowered her head, voice breaking. “I… I don’t know.”

“It… it was an anonymous number.”

Wu Lan frowned. “Give me your phone. I’ll have someone trace it.”

Xu Shu Jing hugged her own elbow, shoulders trembling. “I deleted the text.”

“After I came back, I was so scared, so I…”

Wu Lan knew she was timid. She knew she was softhearted. She assumed those words were meant to protect whoever had sent the message.

But the more Xu Shu Jing acted like this, the more Wu Lan believed the sender had to be Qiao Qing Yan.

Otherwise, Xu Shu Jing wouldn’t have run over without thinking.

“All right.” Wu Lan exhaled, forcing her tone back into calm. “Stop crying. Go wash your face and sleep. We’ll think of a solution after President Xu arrives at noon.”

She stood, already reaching for her bag. “I’ll go buy you something to eat. Don’t go out.”

This was the Capital, not Cloud City. It wasn’t their territory.

And with what happened last night…

Luckily, they still had a trump card.

No one in the company really knew what relationship Xu Shu Jing had with President Xu. Some people guessed they were relatives, since both had the surname Xu.

Wu Lan didn’t believe it was that simple.

Otherwise, President Xu wouldn’t have personally smoothed everything over and specifically told everyone to look after Xu Shu Jing and not let her be bullied.

After Wu Lan left, the room fell quiet.

Xu Shu Jing sat still for a moment.

Then she got out of bed.

Her face was dry. Her hands were steady.

She picked up her phone and logged into a website with practiced ease. A familiar avatar popped up.

“Let’s make a deal,” Xu Shu Jing typed.

“Say it.” The reply came back brief and direct.

Xu Shu Jing didn’t hesitate. “Find out who Qiao Qing Yan met after coming to the Capital. And figure out their conversation too, any way you can.”

“Celebrity Qiao Qing Yan?”

“Yes.”

“The conversation costs extra. Everything else is the same.”

“Fine. Same rules. Pay on delivery.”

The other party went offline.

Xu Shu Jing logged out just as smoothly, cleared the records, then lay back on the bed. Her eyes closed slowly, her breathing even, as if nothing at all had happened.