Lilies in Bloom

Fan Yuli looked at Meng Huai, biting her lower lip so hard it was almost bleeding. Still, she refused to speak, and her eyes grew deeply downcast.

Yun Zimo frowned. "What is that attitude supposed to mean? Do you think staying silent will solve anything? No secret stays hidden forever. Sooner or later, we'll find out.

"Qi Xiaoyun was a simple, honest girl. She worked hard at everything she did and always treated you like an older sister. You got her killed just like that. Can your conscience really rest easy?"

Fan Yuli's lips trembled. "I never meant to get Xiaoyun killed. That wasn't what they told me would happen, either. I never imagined it would turn out this way, but there was nothing I could do.

"After Xiaoyun died, I couldn't get a decent night's sleep, either. I kept dreaming that she came looking for me. But it really wasn't my fault!

"I did tell Xiaoyun that she had no future working for you, that our company couldn't compete with Fame, and that if she switched companies with me, her salary could go up several times over.

"But she refused. She said she wouldn't be where she was today without you. Still, she agreed to do some temporary work, so I had no reason to hurt her!"

Meng Huai pressed his advantage. "Who are these people you mentioned? You may not have killed her yourself, but she died because of you. If you want a clear conscience, tell us what you know."

Fan Yuli hesitated for a long time before speaking. "I don't know who they are, either. Pei Cuiyun, the owner of the Fame Model Company, introduced us. Their leader was a Japanese woman.

"She called herself Hoshino Aki and said she was very famous. I don't know about anything else, but she certainly knew how to use her hands. She took me to the heights of ecstasy!"

Meng Huai hadn't expected Japanese people to be involved. But he didn't understand that last remark. What exactly did she mean?

Yun Zimo's pretty face flushed slightly as she whispered in his ear, "Pei Cuiyun is my sworn enemy. It isn't a business rivalry between us. That woman has her sights set on me!"

Meng Huai's eyes filled with shock. As a promising young man of the new century, he had naturally watched plenty of Japanese adult films and knew about lesbians.

If women were flowers, women like that were lilies. To think the owner of that modeling company was a great big lily herself. She really was an oddball among oddballs!

Realization dawned on him. Fan Yuli was apparently a lesbian, too, and her praise for that Japanese woman's skill with her hands naturally referred to that!

He pondered the matter. Japanese dark arts were powerful, but he had never heard of anyone among their practitioners specializing in gu poison. It seemed that woman wasn't acting alone. There had to be others involved.

Fan Yuli continued, "Hoshino Aki was simply too good. I became so addicted to her that I couldn't tear myself away. I had no way to refuse anything she asked of me!

"Pei Cuiyun was determined to crush our company, leave the boss with nowhere to turn, and finally make her submit. I refused at first, but eventually I couldn't take it anymore, so I agreed."

Yun Zimo shook her head lightly. She hadn't expected Fan Yuli to be a lesbian. Naturally, she had nothing left to say to the woman who had betrayed her.

Meng Huai shook his head inwardly. This affair was becoming more and more complicated. Fan Yuli could only be accused of moral failings, so there wasn't really anything he could do to her.

Seeing that everything had been exposed, Fan Yuli naturally felt too ashamed to remain at the company. In the end, she found an excuse to leave and went to work for Pei Cuiyun.

After all, she was one of the company's mainstay models, and her departure had far-reaching consequences. Many models left with her, making Yun Zimo's company's dire situation even worse.

After careful consideration, Yun Zimo finally decided to sell her modeling company. There was no point in holding on like this.

Meng Huai offered no advice on the matter, only his absolute support. He really knew nothing about this sort of thing and had no idea what he ought to do!

Yun Zimo had a good reputation in the industry, and many companies expressed interest. Naturally, the highest offer came from her sworn rival, the Fame Model Company.

Meng Huai had assumed she would refuse. To his surprise, she agreed without the slightest hesitation and arranged to sign the contract with them the next day.

After a wild bout of lovemaking, Yun Zimo nestled in his arms, tracing circles on his chest with a finger. Smiling, she said, "After tomorrow, I won't have anything left. You'll have to support me then!"

Meng Huai tipped up her chin with a finger and grinned back. "That doesn't sound right. Once you sell the company, you'll be a rich woman. You should be keeping me!"

Yun Zimo put on a coy expression. "Who knew you had the makings of a kept man? But I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I've decided to donate the money from selling the company and set up a charitable foundation specifically to help children who can't afford to go to school.

"Xiaoyun got dragged into this because of me. She was a good girl. She earned money because she wanted to help the children in her village go to school. She didn't want them to end up like her, leaving home so young to struggle for a living!

"So I've decided to establish a charitable foundation in her name. At least I'll have done something for her, and my conscience can rest a little easier."

Meng Huai deliberately pulled a miserable face. "Then we really are in trouble. Looks like I'll have to work harder from now on. Otherwise, how will I support a beautiful wife like you? We'll need to buy a house and a car, too."

Yun Zimo rolled her eyes. "You're getting a bargain on the house and car. Of course I'm not selling the villa or the car. You just need to earn enough to support me. I can spend quite a lot, you know."

They fooled around for a while longer before Meng Huai continued, "You really surprised me, though. I never thought you'd sell your company to your rival. That's not like you!"

Yun Zimo replied breezily, "I don't want to stay in this business anyway, so she won't be my rival anymore. Besides, she offered a high enough price. Why wouldn't I sell?"

Meng Huai nodded lightly. He had to admit that this woman was truly outstanding in every respect. Not everyone could see things so clearly, and not everyone could act on that understanding.

When the two of them arrived at the company the next day, many departments were already deserted. After all, no one knew whether they would be kept on, so it was better to find another job.

They waited in the office for a while before Fan Yuli walked in with a woman wearing a business suit.

Meng Huai paid little attention to that woman. Behind her, however, was another woman wearing a kimono. She was probably Hoshino Aki.

The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up. This woman was no ordinary person. She was definitely a fellow practitioner.