Chapter 47.2

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After some serious mental gymnastics, she finally figured it out. That bird has to be none other than her so-called ‘peacock,’ right?

The phone rang for a long time before Ji Yun finally picked up. She sounded half-asleep. “What’s up, Qiao Qiao?”

Qiao Ziman poured herself a glass of water and sank into the couch. “It’s late—why are you still in bed?”

The line crackled, then Ji Yun groaned, her voice still groggy. “Had a little too much to drink last night… Don’t even get me started. That stuff packs a punch. So, what’s got you calling me first thing in the morning?”

Qiao Ziman took a sip of water. “Chi Yin went to a meeting. I’m home alone.”

Ji Yun let out a low curse. “Damn! So I’m just a backup now, huh?”

“I don’t care. You’re taking me out for drinks tonight—to celebrate your confession success. Let’s go to Dongcang Bar. Yes or no? Give me a straight answer. And don’t even try to pull the best girlfriend, no drinking act on me. If you do, I swear I’ll block you.”

Qiao Ziman didn’t call out Ji Yun’s real motive. Instead, she agreed without hesitation. “Alright. I’ll pick you up.”

—

An hour later, the two of them arrived at Dongcang Bar again and took the same table as before. The short-haired bartender spotted them and came over. “Yun-jie, back again?”

Ji Yun gave a nonchalant “Mm.” “The usual. Two of those house cocktails.”

The bartender nodded and returned shortly with two drinks. Just as she was about to leave, Ji Yun stopped her. “Little peacock here today?”

The bartender hesitated. “Yan-jie’s here, yeah… but—”

Ji Yun shot up from her seat, scanning the room with sharp eyes. “Where?”

“…Second floor.”

Before the bartender could say another word, Ji Yun spun around, storming toward the stairs. “Yun-jie! Yan-jie’s with the big boss and some others for a meeting—you can’t just barge in like this!” The bartender quickly stepped in to block her.

Qiao Ziman grabbed Ji Yun. “Ji Yun, calm down.”

“I am calm!” Ji Yun insisted.

Qiao Ziman failed to hold her back and quickly followed. Up on the second floor, three people were seated in a booth—Yu Shuyan, one unfamiliar face, and someone with their back turned. Qiao Ziman squinted. Wait a minute. Isn’t that… my girlfriend?

She blinked in surprise, then quickly clamped a hand over Ji Yun’s mouth. “Hold on. Chi Yin said they were here for business. At least wait until they’re done before you go bird hunting.”

Ji Yun rolled her eyes. Of course it’s about Chi Yin again. Still, she begrudgingly stayed put.

The three at the table continued their conversation while Qiao Ziman and Ji Yun took a seat at a nearby booth, quietly waiting for them to wrap up. Halfway through, the unfamiliar business partner excused themselves to use the restroom. Ji Yun couldn’t hold back anymore; she started to get up—but then she heard her name and froze.

Chi Yin’s voice was calm. “So, what’s really going on between you and Ji Yun?”

Yu Shuyan swirled her wine, chuckling. “Just having fun.”

“She’s Qiao Qiao’s friend.”

Yu Shuyan smirked, her tone teasing. “Oh? Boss Chi, aren’t I your friend too? Why aren’t you standing up for me?”

Chi Yin replied coolly, “You’re not getting any younger. Don’t you want to settle down?”

“Settle down?” Yu Shuyan’s fingers tightened around her glass for a brief second. She lifted her gaze, eyes dark and unreadable. A faint bitterness flickered beneath her usual nonchalance. “You think my family would ever allow me to settle down?”

Chi Yin fell silent. Yu Shuyan let out a self-deprecating laugh before leaning back into the plush sofa, slipping into her usual lazy demeanor. She tilted her chin toward Chi Yin. “What about you, Boss Chi? Did you really manage to trick that sweet little lamb into your hands? Congrats, congrats. She still doesn’t know, does she? That you joined the company just to get close to her?”

Qiao Ziman’s mind went completely blank. A buzzing filled her ears, drowning everything else out. What the hell did that mean? What did she mean by ‘trick’? What did she mean by ‘joined the company just to get close to me’?!

Her fists clenched tightly, her whole body tensing as she strode straight toward Chi Yin. This time, Ji Yun was the one grabbing her. “Qiao Qiao, calm down. Calm down!”

Hearing the commotion, Chi Yin turned around—and froze. The moment her eyes met Qiao Ziman’s, visible panic flashed across her face. 

“Qiao Qiao…” She reached out, but her voice was unsteady. “Let me explain.”

Qiao Ziman’s gaze flickered toward the empty wine bottles in front of Chi Yin, and suddenly she started to understand what that word—trick—really meant. She laughed, but the laughter never reached her eyes. Reaching for a freshly opened bottle of red wine on the table, she poured herself a full glass. With a sharp clink, she tapped it against the table.

“Let’s drink.” Then, without hesitation, she downed the entire glass in one go. Setting the empty glass down, she left behind a single sentence: “I’ll be waiting for you at home.” And with that, she turned and walked away.

Ji Yun shot Yu Shuyan a glare. “Do you ever know when to shut up?” 

Without another word, she spun around and ran after Qiao Ziman. “Qiao Qiao, wait up!”

Back downstairs, Qiao Ziman sat back in her seat, picked up her cocktail, and drained half of it in one go. Ji Yun knew her far too well; a cold sweat broke out on her back as she imagined what kind of battlefield awaited Chi Yin when they got home.

“Qiao Qiao, you have to stay calm. Don’t start a fight, okay?”

Qiao Ziman gave her a tight-lipped smile—one that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, I’m very calm. I just want to see exactly how much Chi Yin has been keeping from me.”