"The Gilded Cage: Playing with Fire" Chapter 27
Could it truly be a coincidence?
It was difficult to hail a cab here. Sera and I waved at passing private cars, but not a single one stopped. Sera and I sat dejectedly on the ground, staring at each other. Sera whispered: "How about... walking back?"
I reached out and gave her a flick to the forehead. After some thought, I decided to call Logan to come get us.
The call had barely connected when a car pulled over slowly. A middle-aged driver climbed out and stood before me with a look of deep respect: "Miss Chloe?"
The man handed me a business card with both hands. It was from the Julian Group.
Julian?
How did he know I was in trouble?
The driver smiled: "Mr. Julian happened to be passing by and saw Miss Chloe."
Sera turned into a fan-girl, pinching me: "Don't just stand there, hurry up and get in the car. Since Mr. Julian is being so thoughtful, don't let him down." After boarding the car, halfway through the journey, Sera glanced at the driver and leaned into my ear to whisper: "I remember now, it seems there was a Maybach passing by when the car accident happened. It was quite eye-catching; it might just have been Mr. Julian..."
Never mind whether it was Julian or not; there had been constant situations today. Having already run into Crystal, meeting Julian was hardly anything rare.
My head was currently occupied entirely by Mrs. Christian.
Arriving home, I called Logan again, arranging to meet him at a nearby Chinese restaurant.
Logan arrived, looking thoroughly flattered: "Ma'am, what are you doing? There's no reason for you to be treating me to a meal."
I poured him a cup of tea and asked about his family situation. The hot water poured slowly into the snow-white teacup, steam rising in hot wisps. I passed it to Logan, asking with a smile: "I heard you're planning on having a child lately?"
Logan was shrewd and perceptive. He pushed the tea aside and looked at me with a smile: "Ma'am, feel free to ask me anything you want directly."
"Crystal Lin." I took a card from my wallet and pushed it toward him. Logan's eyes lit up, and he tucked it into his pocket with a beaming smile. "Thirty thousand—consider it milk powder money for the baby in advance."
Logan caught my drift: "Don't worry, ma'am, I understand what you mean. Although I have a bit of a gambling habit, I still have a conscience. I know exactly what should and shouldn't be said. Regarding Mrs. Christian, don't you worry, I will not betray you."
I sipped the tea: "It's good that you understand. We're both tied to the same rope."
Logan loved money; it was indeed possible for him to be bought off by Crystal. However, he worked for Christian. If he truly dared to leak the news of Christian keeping me as a mistress to Crystal, Christian would likely be the first person to make him pay. Logan wouldn't be foolish enough to reach such a level for money.
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After meeting Logan, my mind settled.
I immediately messaged Sera. After the car accident, both parties had exchanged contact info, and Sera possessed the number for Crystal’s assistant, Tan Na.
—"Why do you need Mrs. Christian’s assistant’s phone number?" Sera was completely baffled.
—"Be careful; if the original wife finds you, she’ll wipe you out in a minute."
The corners of my mouth twitched as I replied: "Don't worry, I'm not that weak."
Chapter 55: Women’s Eyes Are Too Vicious
I scribbled down that string of numbers and called Tan Na, the phone quickly transferring to Crystal.
"Saturday?" Crystal was completely taken aback that I would proactively call her, showing immense surprise. "There is a meeting, but it's only in the afternoon, so I can free up the morning. How come, Miss Li?"
I tapped my fingers against the table, offering a gentle smile: "I haven't attended floral arrangement class for a long time; if I don't go back, I’ll return everything I learned to the teacher."
As it turned out, the floral arrangement teacher had an emergency that Saturday, postponing the class until the following week. Crystal picked a hotpot restaurant nearby to treat me to a meal, and this time, naturally, I didn't refuse, nodding in immediate agreement.
As the meal neared its end, it transitioned smoothly to the topic I had planned.
Crystal elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin: "I trust him, so I've never thought about these issues. However, a close friend of mine just happened to run into this—her husband cheated, the mistress showed up at her door, and my friend was fumed into illness. When it comes down to it, she was too soft-hearted, lacking the ruthlessness to act, which is why she bolstered the other woman's arrogance."
I assessed her expression calmly: "I thought Mrs. Christian was a gentle woman."
Crystal curled her lips into a smile: "Of course. Even if there truly is another woman, it doesn't matter. Men, after all, how many aren't unfaithful? Money exchanged for flesh is just a game, they'll grow tired of it sooner or later."
By the time she said this, I could basically confirm that Crystal had no idea who I was.
Crystal leaned forward, moving closer toward me: "But then again, Miss Li, do you really not know my husband?"
My eyelid twitched in a brief moment of panic, but Crystal covered her lips and laughed: "Don't be afraid, I'm just joking. It's just that when we met at the mall last time, he was a bit unusual."
Crystal mentioned that in the past when going out with Christian, his gaze would almost never linger on any stranger, not even if they were exceptionally beautiful. "When I first married him, I was quite happy, but I don't think that way anymore. Sometimes I truly wonder if he's asexual."
Women's eyes are too vicious.
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I thought Christian’s acting was good enough; after we exchanged greetings, he never cast another glance at me. Yet from that single greeting alone, she had already sniffed out something unusual.
We parted ways after leaving the hotpot restaurant. I went home, and Christian was there, too, as he had a dinner party that evening. When he emerged from the shower, he was in the middle of changing. I walked over, stood on my tiptoes to help him adjust his tie, and reminded him to return early that night.
"Also, drink less," I ordered in advance.
Christian unbuttoned two buttons, tugged off the tie I had just adjusted, and pinned me against the wall with his hand against the surface, tilting his head to kiss me. The deep kiss was both dominant and tender; I was trapped in the narrow space, gasping for air until I pushed him away: "Aren't you in a rush?"
Christian pecked my cheek: "How about accompanying me tonight?"
His expression was a bit strange, different from his usual self. When he brought me to various events in the past, there was generally no "asking," only "notification"—there's a meeting this afternoon, remember to be on time; I'm taking you to a social function this weekend night, be prepared... it was always like that.
Only when we arrived did I understand Christian's reaction.
Because Mr. Wang was there too.
The dinner party was held in a private villa with extreme privacy, requiring registration for entry and exit. The interior was laid out like a bar, dim and shadowy, with waiters circulating with wine—it was less of a villa and more of a private entertainment club, though everyone present was a member of the elite.
Chapter 56: It Won't Kill You to Be Seen
As soon as I entered the room, Mr. Wang’s lecherous gaze landed on me. He had a girl sitting intimately beside him—the same one I’d encountered at the beauty salon, this time still wearing heavy makeup inappropriate for her age. She flashed a momentary look of surprise upon seeing me before letting out a cold, impolite snort.
Mr. Wang stood up to hand Christian a glass of brandy, greeting him with a smile: "Director Christian."
"I felt a sense of fate the last time I met Miss Li, and I kept pestering Director Christian to let me see the beauty again. I was afraid Director Christian wouldn't be willing to share such a hidden treasure, ha ha, but I never expected Director Christian would actually bring her along."
In front of businessmen, profit comes first. The man didn't utter a single word about the incident months ago when Christian sent me to record the DV, casting it entirely to the back of his mind. "Regarding the land bidding, I hope you'll provide some assistance."
Christian placed his wine glass on the table without taking a single sip, sat down directly, and offered a faint smile, neither agreeing nor refusing directly.
Shortly after we entered, a man led in five or six young girls, all in their twenties. Wrapped tightly in coats, once they shed their outerwear, they all wore identical short skirts, revealing slender, snow-white legs. They all looked quite inexperienced, appearing as if they didn't frequent such occasions.
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