Tang Fangjing was so furious she could have coughed up blood.
She could not get a word out and merely gave a hollow chuckle on the other end.
Xia Zhi went on the offensive again. "Tangtang, I really want to get together. I feel like we'd have endless things to talk about. Why don't we make plans? I'll treat you to a meal tomorrow."
It would be the perfect chance to let that little two-faced schemer see the "love marks" on her body. Then even the archvillain's denial would be useless.
Tang Fangjing was beaten back again and again. Finally, she mumbled some response and hastily hung up.
Xia Zhi stared at her phone for a moment and scoffed. "You think you can take me on?"
With acting skills like those, you dare play innocent in front of your grandmaster?
You're nowhere near ready.
Lu Kuo stole another glance at her. Their eyes met in the rearview mirror, and Xia Zhi gave him a sweet grin.
"Sorry you had to see that, big brother."
There was not the slightest trace of embarrassment in her perfectly composed manner.
Lu Kuo had to admire skin that thick. But he had weathered his share of storms, and his expression did not change as he said,
"It looks like you and Aheng are getting along very well these days. It was so late yesterday, yet he still came to me for medicine. I've never seen him care so much about anyone."
Xia Zhi's expression briefly faltered. Had the original owner really persevered long enough to see the clouds part?
No, no. What clouds had parted?
The archvillain had clearly insisted on a divorce before. Even that morning, he had said he would go through with it when he returned from his business trip...
The male lead was reading too much into things.
"Sincerity can move mountains. I've been so good to Aheng that even an iceberg would have melted by now."
Xia Zhi's expression could not have been sweeter.
She wanted the male lead to know that her love for the archvillain ran as deep as the sea. If they really divorced later, it would all be the archvillain's fault. Perhaps she could even wrangle some extra alimony out of it.
With that in mind, Xia Zhi launched into a lengthy speech about her feelings for Aheng.
She was unwavering.
She was utterly sincere.
As long as she was not embarrassed, the embarrassment belonged to someone else.
Amid all this activity, Xia Zhi still found time to message Tang Fangjing back.
-Tangtang, so tomorrow is your birthday! I've been so busy these past two days that I completely forgot. This is perfect. You can treat me to a meal tomorrow, and I'll buy you a present.
-But your Brother Heng is away on business, so it'll just be me.
As expected, Tang Fangjing did not reply.
At that moment, Tang Fangjing was busy trying to contact Lu Heng. But he did not reply to her messages, and when she called, his phone was switched off. Had he really gone away on business?
Tang Fangjing was frantic with anxiety.
Seeing Xia Zhi's messages only made her feel worse.
She would not believe anything that woman said. Unless Brother Heng admitted it himself, she would not believe it.
Brother Heng could not possibly like Xia Zhi. It was impossible.
"Big brother, I don't know if it's just me, but I always feel like Mom and Dad don't treat Aheng like their own son."
"What do you mean?" Lu Kuo asked.
"They lost Aheng and got him back. By rights, they should cherish him even more. After all, he suffered out there for all those years without enjoying any of the Lu Family's wealth and luxury."
"But in reality, Mom and Dad treat him like an outsider. They're polite, but there's no closeness at all."
"Aheng never enjoyed the Lu Family's blessings, but the moment he came back, he had to work like a slave for them. Dad gets to drink and party now, and Mom gets to shop and have beauty treatments. Isn't that all because Aheng is keeping the company going?"
Lu Kuo nodded. "Aheng really does work hard. The Lu Family has let him down."
Hearing the male lead say that, Xia Zhi hurried to strike while the iron was hot. "Brother, you're Mom and Dad's precious darling. You should talk to them more often and tell them to treat Aheng better."
"Otherwise, if Aheng ever washes his hands of the company, it'll be too late for them to make amends. After all, how does that saying go?"
"Love that comes too late is worth less than dirt."
"The same goes for family affection. Once a heart turns cold, it's hard to warm it again."
Xia Zhi got out at her front door and waved Lu Kuo goodbye with a smile. "Thanks for the ride, big brother. Take care."
Lu Kuo smiled and said goodbye too. Even after the car pulled away, he could still see Xia Zhi in the rearview mirror, watching him leave.
That graceful figure in red.
She was striking.
It was the first time in all these years that Lu Kuo had taken a serious look at Xia Zhi. There was no denying her beauty. Hers was neither a generic face nor an influencer's face. Her beauty was unaffected and unpretentious, fresh, sweet, and distinctive.
Before, he had not been sure what Xia Zhi felt for Aheng-whether it was love or possessiveness.
What she had just said made him realize that Xia Zhi truly loved Aheng to distraction.
Lu Kuo suddenly felt a little envious of Lu Heng. Though he was popular with women, not one had ever loved him so deeply.
Would he ever have the chance to be as lucky as Aheng in this lifetime?
After waving the male lead goodbye, Xia Zhi let out a long breath. The male lead certainly lived up to his role. He really did have his wits about him.
All her emotionally charged acting earlier had failed to convince him of her feelings for the archvillain. Instead, those last few remarks seemed to have moved him.
Never mind. If the male lead could join her camp and persuade the archvillain's irresponsible parents to treat their second son better, the archvillain's corruption level would surely plummet.
After all, his greatest emotional knot lay with the Lu Family. The original owner and the Xia Family should only come second.
A knife wielded by an outsider could never hurt as much as one wielded by family.
Once home, Xia Zhi began gathering her art supplies. She wanted to paint the two most important people in her life.
She spent the entire day painting.
Xia Zhi disliked any outside interference while she worked. Her mission target was abroad on business anyway, so she shut the door and switched off her phone. Only when she had finished everything did she realize she was ravenous.
Looking at the familiar faces in the paintings, Xia Zhi's eyes filled with tears.
She had only been in this world for two days, yet she missed them so much. When would she be able to go back?
A voice unexpectedly popped into her head. [Once you complete the mission.]
Fine.
The archvillain looked like a fortress that would be rather difficult to breach.
Little Sponge reminded her, [Host, you need to be strategic about this. Just like marching into battle, you need a military operations map.]
That...
Did seem to make a little sense.
Xia Zhi asked, [Then what do you think I should do?]
Little Sponge replied, [First of all, you absolutely can't get divorced. Once you're divorced, it won't be easy to get close to the target and carry out your mission.]
Xia Zhi asked, [But what if he insists on divorcing me? Am I supposed to tie up all four of his legs?]
Little Sponge replied, [??]
[Where did four legs come from?]
Xia Zhi was speechless. It had just been an offhand remark. [Is that question so important? Do we need to sit down and discuss it for two hours?]
Little Sponge was used to Xia Zhi snapping at it and did not get angry. [The only way is to make it a done deal by sleeping with him, or...]
Xia Zhi had more hope for the "or." [Or what?]
Little Sponge let its imagination run wild. [Or make him mistakenly believe you've slept together.]
Xia Zhi replied, [...]
And here I thought it had some brilliant idea.
"That's it?"
Little Sponge replied, [Have you read The Thirty-Six Stratagems? It's a human book. One of the stratagems is called "stalling for time." First, put off the archvillain's desire for a divorce, then use that opportunity to do your mission. Once you're done, run.]
Huh?
She actually thought it sounded a little feasible.
Xia Zhi asked, [How do I do the mission?]
Before you continue