Chapter 20: Consolidating Power (6)
Li Chanying kept glancing at her watch, her fingers were tapping on the steering wheel. Although she was thirty minutes early of the agreed time, she hoped Li Nuxie would arrive earlier that her usual attitude of arriving on time.
"Ugh, Li Nuxie, you need to be here now. Like right now," she said as her eyes darted back and forth around the Townsquare. She opened her mouth to yawn, leaning her head on the steering wheel.
As she thought how she can break the news to Li Nuxie, Li Chanying rubbed her eyes. It was probably due to stress and anxiety that moments later, Li Chanying closed her eyes and drifted to her dreamland.
Meanwhile, Li Nuxie halted her steps as soon as she was out of the underground café's vicinity. She spun around and faced Rezvani and Huang Wensheng.
"I have an appointment today so we cannot sit and discuss my term," she started. With her chin up, her bearing was regal. "Someone will call you one of these days. From there, we start. Understand?"
The two people in front of her just nodded, shivering slightly. However, they did not know if it was because of the cold wind or because of the imposing aura emanating from the woman in front of them. Li Nuxie's aura was very different while she was still inside. She lost the easy-going atmosphere that surrounded her.
"Then, I'll go first," her fore and middle fingers quickly touched the side of her forehead, saluting Rezvani and Huang Wensheng before turning around.
Rezvani blinked his eyes as his gaze followed Li Nuxie. "She's a bit weird," he muttered.
Huang Wensheng shook his head. "But you have to admit, she's really cool. From now on, she's my goddess."
"Hmmmp, she's not even that beautiful," Rezvani continued to criticize Li Nuxie.
Rolling his eyes, Huang Wensheng stepped away from him. "Who cares about your definition of beauty? Beat her in Forza Horizon first before you tell her that she's not beautiful," he deadpanned.
"Brat!" Rezvani kicked the pavement as his clenched fists trembled.
Li Nuxie was currently knocking on the car window. However, Li Chanying's eyes were still closed. Li Nuxie sighed. She can just kick the car door. But judging from the ineffectiveness of her cousin's concealer on hiding the dark circles under her eyes, Li Nuxie does not have the heart to do it.
Not minding the car's vibration, she leaned her back against the car and removed her eyeglasses. She closed her eyes to rest them for a moment. But as soon as darkness enveloped her, a certain man's eyes entered her consciousness.
She twisted her lips as her left hand repeatedly pat her cheek. "Stop thinking about him, Li Nuxie. Stop it," she murmured. "Ah, but I really like his eyes, damn," she exhaled as her head dropped on the side. "And I also like his Adam's apple," she continued. "I wonder what it's like to kiss that, hmmm?"
A soft chuckle interrupted her perverted thoughts. She opened her eyes. She stared at the person with wide eyes. She closed them again as soon as she realized who the person in front of her was. "Did I fall asleep somewhere?" she asked aloud. Did he hear what she said? There's no way you can be real! My reputation is at stake, hu hu. She screamed in her mind.
"Should I kiss you to wake you up, then?"
Li Nuxie put her two hands over her ears; her right hand was still holding her eyeglass. She did not hear a thing. She did not. But maybe, she can reconsider? Argh! Why am I being a pervert now? She asked herself.
At that particular moment, Li Chanying fluttered her eyelids. A second later, she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was someone's back pressed against her car window. She wrinkled her eyebrows. Whoever dares to lean against her car? But that back looked familiar. She straightened her back and took a glance at her watch.
"Omg! Xiexie will kill me!" She slowly turned her head towards the side and pressed the window button. Gods and Goddesses from Mount Olympus, save me from Li Nuxie's wrath, she begged silently.
Li Nuxie felt the car window went down. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Ying! It's a good thing you're awake! Let's go," she sprinted to the other side of the car and opened the door. She almost bumped her head on the roof of the car. As soon as she was seated, she wore back her eyeglass.
Li Chanying's jaw was left hanging while watching her cousin fastened the seatbelt. She cannot even put the lock, her hand was trembling slightly. What the hell happened to her?
"Drive safely," a voice said outside. Li Chanying was yet to close the car window so the voice reached her ears.
With a raised eyebrow, she glanced outside. Holy damn. Under the soft light that came from the lamp posts, the profile of the man was visible to Li Chanying's eyes. That black mask and body built. There was only one person in Country C who possessed that.
"It's an honor to meet you again, Black Emperor."
The corner of the man's mouth went upwards. "Vulture," Black Emperor acknowledged her.
It was the turn of Li Nuxie's jaw to be left hanging. Her cousin knew that man? That can wait. The top priority was to get away from the man. "Let's go," she tugged the sleeve of Li Chanying.
Li Chanying nodded to Black Emperor as the car window went up. She pressed the 'Drive' button and turning the steering wheel to the left, she looked at her cousin.
"I want details," both of them said at the same time.
"You're older. You need to spill first," Li Nuxie said.
"What? The younger generation should follow the older generation so you should be the first," Li Chanying contradicted her cousin.
The car moved towards the main thoroughfare of the city. "Let's just do it the old way," Li Nuxie suggested, getting a dice from the small vase glued on the dashboard. "The lower the number wins."
"Sure."
When the car slowed down at an intersection, Li Nuxie threw the dice. She got one dot. "Ha ha, the odd is with me."
Li Chanying rolled her eyes as she took the dice from Li Nuxie. She threw it on the dashboard and just like the old times, she lost to her cousin again, getting three dots.
"Whatever. Just ask whatever you want."
"How did you know that man?" Li Nuxie fired the question immediately.
"He is the Black Emperor of the dark web. Of course, I must know him," Li Chanying answered.
Black Emperor? Li Nuxie inclined her head. "His code was familiar."
"Of course it is. He's the Black Emperor, Xiexie. I'm sure you've heard about him. You taught me about computers, after all."
Li Nuxie opened her mouth to yawn. "Probably. Anyway, are you on speaking terms?"
"What?" Li Chanying wrinkled her forehead, throwing a sideway glance. "We do greet each other during competitions. If you're asking if we are close with each other, then no." Her cousin must have hit her head. Why was she asking a lowly mortal about becoming friends with the Black Emperor?
"Oh, okay," Li Nuxie nodded. "But can you gather data on him?"
Li Chanying pushed her foot on the brake suddenly. Both of them were pushed forward. Good thing, they wore their seatbelts. "Xiexie, did you hit your head?" Her eyes widened at the thought that her cousin wanted the Black Emperor investigated.
She took a deep breath as the car moved again. "Listen Xiexie, Black Emperor is not someone to mess up with. He was friends with Xu Ming, okay? The type of friendship that says 'Hey Xu Ming, get out of the bathroom. I don't care if there are still bubbles in your face. I'm going to use it.' That kind of friendship, you get it?"
"Really? No wonder, his aura seems to suffocate me," Li Nuxie said.
"We still have a problem with the Li Textile. There's no need to be involved in another trouble," Li Chanying reminded her cousin.
Raising her shoulders in a half-shrug, Li Nuxie faced Li Chanying. "Well, I kind of like him. Does it still count as trouble?"
"The fvck, Li Nuxie!" Li Chanying stepped on the brake. This time, Li Nuxie was ready. She grip on both sides of the seat to steady herself. "You wanted me to gather data on him because you like him?"
"Yup. Just the basics. Like favorite food or if he has a girlfriend."
Li Chanying massaged her temples. She was supposed to be happy that her cousin has already taken interest in the opposite sex. But Li Nuxie did not just take interest. She might be planning to woo the man in question. This was double damn, she thought.
"Okay, I'll do it," she told her cousin. Might as well do the work than let Li Nuxie handle it. That way, she can be reassured her cousin will not do something that will embarrass or worse, hurt herself.
"But first thing first. RuRu's contract was terminated," she informed Li Nuxie.
Li Nuxie's shoulders went stiff. "Grandma did?"
Li Chanying shook her head. "That woman did."
"Wow. Just wow. So, she's calling the shots now? She hasn't even occupied the position formally," Li Nuxie twisted her lips. She closed her eyes, massaging her temples. "I should not get angry. My wrinkles will multiply."
"Grandma has been looking for you. I've managed to cover up your tracks," Li Chanying cleared her throat as she glanced at Li Nuxie. "Also, the stocks of Li Textile continued to fall since Hong Chi withdrew the investments."
Li Nuxie opened her eyes. "Inform Hong Chi to do everything in her power to convince RuRu to model for NU C. I need her on my team."
She sneered. That Liu Lanzhi has abused the power vested on her right away. Well, let's see how far she can maintain her power. After I get RuRu on my team, my power has already been consolidated, she thought.
"Okay, I'll do it as soon as I get home."
"Let's visit the ancestral house then before we go home," she told Li Chanying.
"Definitely not, Xiexie. That woman was currently living in the ancestral house. The two of you will clash for sure," Li Chanying gently reminded her cousin.
"Don't you believe in me?"
"Sorry to say this but I don't," she answered bluntly.
"Okay fine, I'll go in the morning," Li Nuxie conceded.
Li Chanying sighed. "I'll accompany you."
The sleeping volcano was yet to ask for compensation on the stolen design of the Octagon Hotel. Of course, there's no way Li Nuxie will be civil to Liu Lanzhi. It will be a miracle if that woman will walk away with her hair intact after they see each other.
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Yuinavarro
Yuinavarro Pardon if there are some grammar and spelling mistakes. I'll fix it as soon as I get a stable net connection. Thanks!
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