บท 184: Play Her Game

Zhou Mansion

"Call me when something came up, okay? I'll wait for you here."

"Thank you, honey!" Xu Jia Li lightly pecked Si Weimin's lips before she nodded and exited his car. She waved at him as she walked towards the huge gate. Si Weimin insisted on driving her to the Zhous since Shen Linqin had her car.

She looked at him once again before the gate opened and an old man bowed in front of her. He looked like he was about 70 years old. He wore a friendly vibe on his face even though he wasn't smiling. Maybe it was because of his eyes. He was tall and she could see that he might be a really good looking man when he was young.

"Miss Xu, please come inside."

Xu Jia Li smiled warmly at the old butler before she thanked him. She noticed the meek smile that flashed on the old man's face, although it only lasted for brief moment.

"May I know your name?"

The butler seemed surprised about her question. He stopped on his track before he faced Xu Jia Li, "I'm Butler Kang, Miss Xu."

"Just call me Xiao Li, Uncle Kang."

Xu Jia Li noticed that the old man was startled when she called him uncle. His eyes slightly watered before he smiled. There was something warm about his smile. She couldn't point it out but she felt at ease talking to the old man.

"How long have you been with the Zhous, Uncle Kang?"

"Since Jiayin was a young boy, Xiao Li."

"Do you have any family?"

"No. I dedicated my life to the Zhous," Butler Kang stopped on his track as he faced Xu Jia Li. His eyes were shining. He had a look of fatherly love on his face when he said, "You really look like someone I know back then, Xiao Li."

"Who is it, Uncle Kang?"

"Someone I treated as my own daughter. But she's already gone," his voice quivered. The sadness in the old man's voice was evident. His eyes were full of melancholy.

She patted the old man's shoulder which made Butler Kang even more dazed.

"You're really kind, Xiao Li. Let's go inside. They must be waiting for you."

She nodded before she followed him inside the living room where Ye Lingling and Zhou Bingbing were seated.

"Please get some tea for Miss Xu, Butler Kang." Zhou Bingbing ordered as she stood and greeted Xu Jia Li. The smile was as fake as she was that made Xu Jia Li sneered inside, "What a great night it is to have you again, Sister Xu. Doesn't she look lovely tonight?"

She looked intently at Zhou Bingbing. She didn't conceal the disdain in her eyes as she walked towards her. She could read inside her like she was a transparent box. She grinned before she moved her face closer to her ears, "Trying to be the good girl? Nice try! But you can do a little better next time."

She smiled provocatively before she walked back towards the couch opposite the two. She sat down, disregarding their presence which made Zhou Bingbing even more annoyed. When she saw how pissed Zhou Bingbing was, she chuckled.

"So Miss Xu, how's your current movie doing?" Ye Lingling asked while she held Zhou Bingbing's hand. It seemed like the mother and daughter duo had a scheme on their sleeve. She gazed at her, knowing full well that Ye Lingling was only feigning interest in her work.

She raised her brow as she tilted her head. These women were pathetic. She was about to scoff when she saw Zhou Jiayin in the corner of her eyes. She smiled sweetly before she said, "It's doing great, Miss Ye. Thank you for asking."

****

The reaction on Zhou Bingbing's face was awful. Her face was red with fury but she kept smiling because it was what her mother told her. If she really wanted to defeat Xu Jia Li, she had to play her games. That's why earlier, she went to her father and apologized for how she treated Xu Jia Li. She had to swallow her pride and pretend to be good so her.

"Dad, you're back! I already made it up to Sister Xu and I even invited her to go out sometime. Right, Sister Xu?" She smiled at Xu Jia Li but the bitch had a smug look of her face that irked her a lot. She pretended not to care as she held his father on his arm.

"That's great, Xiao Bing!" Zhou Jiayin had a satisfied look of his face while he nodded his head before he turned his gaze at Xu Jia Li, "Xiao Li, I'm so glad you made it. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Something happened in the company that needed my attention."

"It's alright, Uncle Zhou," Xu Jia Li stood and walked towards Zhou Jiayin. She held his hand as she asked, "Is everything okay in the company?"

"Well, there seemed to be some sort of problem with the workers but it's been settled. No need to worry about it, Xiao Li."

Zhou Bingbing felt fury brewing inside. She was fuming with undeniable anger. She stood beside his father like an abandoned dog while he chatted merrily with Xu Jia Li.

She clenched her fists before she felt Ye Lingling's hand on her shoulder. She looked at her, eyes blaring with hatred.

"Play her game. Don't show your father what you really feel. That bitch is as cunning as I imagine. If you want to get Si Weimin, you have to control your feelings."