Chapter 360: Qi Meishao's killing intention returns
At this moment, the commotion outside grew louder.
"President Leng, do you have confidence in this full-scale presale launch?"
Leng Qingqiu's voice remained as pleasant as ever: "If I didn't have confidence, I wouldn't have invested billions in hosting this gala."
"President Leng, there are rumors that you and President Lu of Dasheng Group are actually in a romantic relationship. Is this true?"
Leng Qingqiu smiled, "Am I not worthy of him?"
The sound of camera shutters clicking rapidly filled the air as the reporters outside grew excited.
"President Leng, there are rumors that Lu Chengwen is a playboy with more girlfriends than one can count. Do you not mind this? Or is your relationship just a marriage of convenience between two wealthy families? Please forgive my bluntness."
Leng Qingqiu responded effortlessly, "Well, it hasn't reached the point where they're uncountable—I can still keep track. As for a marriage of convenience… even if I say it's not, you wouldn't write it that way. Also, I appreciate your bluntness."
The assistant interjected, "Apologies, everyone. We will have a dedicated press conference later. We will not be answering more questions here. Please enjoy the gala."
The doors opened, and Leng Qingqiu walked in.
Leng Qingqiu's presence was far more commanding than Lu Chengwen's.
She was truly aristocratic, truly a favored daughter of the heavens, truly a queen who looked down upon the world with pride.
The doors closed behind her as she smiled and approached Lu Chengwen, greeting him with a polite hug and even giving him a light kiss on the cheek.
"What brings you here?" Leng Qingqiu asked with a smile.
"Uh… just curious about the behind-the-scenes of a superstar."
Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen with a smile, and the air seemed to freeze.
Everyone here—literally everyone—knew exactly what Lu Chengwen had just done and with whom.
Although they didn't know the details, they knew exactly what had happened.
The manager tried to smooth things over: "President Leng, what brings you to the backstage? Ah, it's quite crowded here, perhaps we should—"
Leng Qingqiu merely gave him a look, and he lost the courage to continue speaking.
Turning back to Lu Chengwen, Leng Qingqiu said, "President Lu, you wouldn't have come here on a whim just to find a beauty to spend the night with, would you?"
Lu Chengwen chuckled, "Nothing escapes you."
Leng Qingqiu turned her head and saw the Celestial Fairy. "So, this is your type?"
The Celestial Fairy immediately looked displeased. "President Leng, please watch your words. He was the one who took over my dressing room."
Leng Qingqiu laughed, "Not her—she's not interested in you."
Lu Chengwen nodded with a smile. "Shall we go? It's too noisy here."
Leng Qingqiu nodded.
Wan Bin stepped forward, "President Leng, it's a pleasure to meet you. Your presence on stage tonight was absolutely stunning. If I may be blunt, no one at this gala is a bigger star or more beautiful than you."
Leng Qingqiu simply offered a polite smile and shook his hand. "Mr. Wan, your participation in this event has elevated it to a new level. Please make yourself at home. If you need anything, just inform the reception team, and we'll do our best to accommodate you."
Lu Chengwen yawned, "Want to take a walk outside?"
Leng Qingqiu looked at him, "Or should you find me a dressing room too?"
The Celestial Fairy and the others widened their eyes. They didn't dare to interrupt, but what they were hearing was simply too shocking.
Lu Chengwen chuckled and put an arm around Leng Qingqiu. "Maybe we should first discuss my girlfriend list—I think there's still room to add a few more names."
As they walked out, Leng Qingqiu said, "Don't make it too long, I won't be able to manage them all."
"Believe in yourself."
At the door, Lu Chengwen turned around.
"My apologies for disturbing the Celestial Fairy's rest. Ah… and that little actress too."
Lu Chengwen elegantly added, "I know which hotel you're staying at. See you at tonight's banquet. Good afternoon, everyone."
Jiang Shihan and Zhao Gang quickly followed.
The Celestial Fairy felt something was off. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was definitely wrong.
Why… why could she hear his thoughts?!
Ignoring Wan Bin's attempt to stop her, she ran after them.
But by the time she reached the corridor outside, it was already empty.
Leng Qingqiu said, "I thought you were interested in that big celebrity beauty? Why didn't you get her contact information?"
"She's not interested in me. In her eyes, I'm just an uncultured rich guy."
"Then why were you flirting with her?"
"She's a celebrity! Flirting a little won't hurt."
The Celestial Fairy finally lost the courage to speak.
She understood now—these powerful figures had no interest in what she had to say.
Wan Bin also walked out, hands in his pockets, and let out a cold snort:
"Filthy capitalists, reeking of money. Did you hear their conversation? It's so decadent it's disgusting."
The Celestial Fairy turned her head and glanced at Wan Bin.
Suddenly, she found him disgusting too.
…
Luo Shiyin sat by the bed, finishing her energy circulation.
She exhaled slowly, dissipating her internal energy and opening her eyes.
At this moment, she had reached the upper-fourth level of ancient martial arts, and her foundation was solid.
Long Aotian nodded. "Unbelievable. Ever since Shiyin entered the upper-fourth level, her progress has been astonishing!"
Qi Meishao looked at Luo Shiyin, feeling sorrowful.
Luo Shiyin had become even stronger.
But this strength was likely connected to her relationship with Lu Chengwen.
Ever since her seal had been unlocked, her cultivation speed had been shocking.
And the young master still didn't know—Luo Shiyin had already become a traitor.
How to say this?
Things are too chaotic.
Interpersonal relationships are too chaotic.
If she exposed Luo Shiyin and laid everything bare, what would become of Luo Shiyin? She didn't dare to imagine.
Moreover, at that time, many of her own matters… would probably no longer be hidden.
Qi Meishao felt a wave of sorrow in her heart.
How did things come to this?
Continuing under these circumstances, the young master had almost no chance of victory.
Lu Chengwen had Hua Xuening's protection and Luo Shiyin as an insider.
Even the fact that Xu Xuejiao was an undercover agent on their side—Lu Chengwen had likely known for a long time.
Luo Shiyin had truly opened her heart to Lu Chengwen, and a woman who has fallen in love… cannot be brought back.
If this continued, even Xu Xuejiao might end up getting killed because of her.
Qi Meishao felt that everything was out of control.
The undercover agents on their side were practically exposed, while Lu Chengwen was clearly using Xu Xuejiao repeatedly to siphon money.
Long Aotian was very satisfied: "Shiyin, how is it?"
Luo Shiyin smiled slightly: "A little tired."
"Mm, rest for a bit."
Long Aotian rubbed his hands together excitedly: "This is great! Shiyin's progress has increased our chances of winning by several percent! As long as Huo Wendong thoroughly ruins Lu Chengwen, and we get Shiyin to take control of Huo Wendong, everything will fall into place. Xuecheng will be mine!"
Qi Meishao kept her head down and remained silent.
Long Aotian said, "Meishao, you should learn from Shiyin—learn her spirit, learn from her actions. Look at how much she's improved recently!"
At that moment, a sound came from a room on the second floor.
Long Aotian was overjoyed: "Xiaohua has broken through too!? Fantastic! Hahaha! You all rest, I'm going to check on Xiaohua."
Long Aotian went upstairs.
Qi Meishao looked at Luo Shiyin. "Shiyin-jie, congratulations."
There was a trace of sadness and sorrow in her voice.
Luo Shiyin understood her thoughts and forced a bitter smile. "You can expose me. I won't hate you."
Qi Meishao's eyes turned red. "I've thought about it, but I can't do it."
Luo Shiyin was speechless, not knowing what to say.
This was betrayal.
But Long Aotian was never her master to begin with.
Her memories were gradually returning—the ones that had been sealed away since childhood were becoming clearer.
She now knew how her fate had been twisted.
That man, that ghost-like man, he was the one who took everything from her.
He forcibly changed her destiny, leading her to her master.
All these years of being taught about "loyalty," "saving the world," "devotion," and "sacrifice"... it was nothing more than ideological conditioning for a child.
Those powerful figures had been gathering young girls with strong inherited abilities for Long Aotian since he was a child.
Her fate had been forcibly rewritten into Long Aotian's path to glory.
On his road to becoming the world's strongest, their lives or deaths were insignificant.
They were merely Long Aotian's assistants—or worse… just four vicious dogs on his leash.
Whoever he commanded them to bite, they bit.
Whether the dogs lived or died was irrelevant. What mattered was how they died—whether they died meaningfully.
Whether their deaths could help Long Aotian take another step forward on his path to dominance.
"Shiyin-jie." Qi Meishao's eyes were filled with bitterness. "Are you never coming back?"
"No, I am finally walking on the right path—the one that originally belonged to me."
Qi Meishao looked at her in confusion. To Qi Meishao, Luo Shiyin was completely insane.
All for a man.
For a flirtatious, smooth-talking, womanizing scumbag.
"Is he worth it?"
"We should all ask ourselves—is the one we are serving truly worth it?"
Luo Shiyin took a deep breath, her eyes reddening. "The seal in my mind has been broken. I have seen the memories that were locked away."
Luo Shiyin shook her head. "What if I told you… that following the young master was a mistake from the very beginning?"
"Shut up!" Qi Meishao instantly flew into a rage. "That's just a traitor's excuse for self-justification! You can make up any reason you want—I'd rather you say you fell in love with Lu Chengwen! I'd rather believe that your heart was conquered by him, that you're just a foolish woman blinded by love!"
Luo Shiyin said, "Would that make you feel better?"
Qi Meishao bit her lip. She knew that no matter which explanation it was, she would be utterly devastated.
"Did you tell Lu Chengwen about Xu Xuejiao?"
Luo Shiyin shook her head.
"You? Not telling? Don't you love your dear man?"
Luo Shiyin chuckled. "If you don't expose me, I won't expose her. As for how things will end… let's leave that to fate."
Upstairs, Long Aotian laughed heartily: "Good, Xiaohua! You did not disappoint me!"
Zhuge Xiaohua was also excited. "Young Master, Xiaohua is now in the Upper Four Gates as well! Next time someone from the Upper Four Gates comes looking for trouble, Xiaohua will fight alongside you and beat them to a pulp!"
"Good! Well said! Hahaha!"
Luo Shiyin walked toward the stairs. Halfway up, she paused. "Don't overthink things. None of this is your fault."
Qi Meishao watched as Luo Shiyin swayed her hips seductively, walking up the stairs with an air of flirtatious elegance.
She cursed in her heart: Shameless woman!
Kill Lu Chengwen!
Only by killing him could everything return to the way it was!
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