“You, the two of you! Come here!” Song Jingyu pointed to the two bodyguards Fu Chengyan sent over. “Yan only asked you to protect me and not to constantly keep an eye on me! I’m not a criminal!”
“But Mr. Zhou has made it clear. We need to follow the two of you and not to let you out of our sights,” replied one of the bodyguards. He wasn’t affected by what Song Jingyu had said, nor was he going to be nice to her.
“Please don’t make things difficult for us.”
“You…”
“That’s enough!” Song Zhenyan interrupted Song Jingyu. “Jingyu, how many times have I told you? You must always remember your status and watch how you conduct yourself!” Song Zhenyan frowned. “Look at how you’re behaving now!”
Song Zhenyan looked at the two bodyguards. “You know I’m Yan’s mother.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Since you know who I am, you should know that if you offend me, you’ll so going to get it!”
“We are only following orders, madam. Mr. Fu is the one who paid us, so we obey him.”
Song Zhenyan narrowed her eyes, “Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you. But I want to have some tea now.”
“I’ll have someone prepare it,” answered one of the bodyguards before leaving to do so.
Song Jingyu had requests of her own too. “I want to see someone. Bring Yan’s secretary, Mai Qi, to me. Also, bring whoever prepared the lottery box today too.”
Song Jingyu could not just let the matter go. She had clearly switched all the number tags in the box. How was Shi Nuan still being picked? The only explanation was that some part of her plan had gone wrong. “Bring them to me now!”
Mai Qi was in the middle of something when Fu Chengyan’s bodyguard suddenly appeared in front of her. “Ms. Mai, Ms. Song would like to see you.”
Mai Qi narrowed her eyes. “Now? What did Ms. Song say?”
“She’s very emotional right now and she insists on seeing the person who was in charge of the lottery box,” replied the bodyguard. Mai Qi pursed her lips. “Where’s Mr. Zhou?”
“Looking for me?” Zhou Zheng came over right then and took a look at the bodyguard. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching over Ms. Song?”
“Mr. Zhou, he’s here to tell me that Song Jingyu is looking for me. It’s something to do with the lottery box.” Mai Qi continued, “I’ve already informed Mr. Fu regarding the box and how we had already switched it back. Ms. Song must’ve found out, so…”
“What are you worried about. I’m sure you can handle this small issue,” smiled Zhou Zheng. “You did well on this matter. Go and let Mr. Fu know.”
“Okay.”
Mai Qi followed the bodyguard to Song Jingyu’s lounge room and saw that the person-in-charge of the lottery box was there too. “Ms. Song, you’re looking for me?”
Song Jingyu narrowed her eyes at Mai Qi before walking over and slapping her across the face.
Mai Qi hadn’t expected Song Jingyu to pull such a stunt. She covered her burning hot face with her hand and looked at Song Jingyu is disbelief. “Ms. Song, what did I do for you to slap me?” Mai Qi continued, “Hasn’t Ms. Song been insisting that we are friends?”
“Friends? You?” Song Jingyu looked at Mai Qi coldly, contempt written across her face. “Look at yourself. Now look at me. Do you think you’re qualified to be my friend? Do you think I would even spare you a look if you weren’t Yan’s secretary?” jeered Song Jingyu.
Mai Qi clenched her fists and glared at Song Jingyu. “I didn’t realize Ms. Song was such a person. I guess I had mistaken.”
“Do you think I care about what you think? There is no friendship between us! Haven’t you gotten plenty of benefits off me too?”
“That’s right. It’s been my honor that Ms. Song has valued me all this while. So why am I here right now? Did you realize that I’m no longer of value so you’re kicking me to the curb and gifting me a slap as a bonus?”
“You still dare to play dumb? Tell me, were you the one who switched the lottery box?” Song Jingyu reached out her hand, preparing to hit her again. But Mai Qi swiftly grabbed Song Jingyu’s hand. “Ms. Song. Don’t forget who I work for. You’ve already slapped me once so I’d advise you to think carefully before hitting me again. After all, I do work closely with Mr. Fu.”
“You’re threatening me? Who do you think you are? You think I’m afraid to touch you? Let me tell you. Even if you were to get in an accident someday, Yan wouldn’t utter a word. You are nothing but a lowly secretary after all, not worth our time. You think Yan would blame me?” Song Jingyu looked at Mai Qi as if she was one big joke. “Tell me! Were you the one who switched the lottery box?”
“I don’t understand what Ms. Song is saying. The lottery box was prepared well in advance. Why would I need to switch it? Or is there some secret to the lottery box that I’m not aware of?” Mai Qi looked intently at Song Jingyu. “Is this a secret that Ms. Song knows?”
“Rubbish! What would I know?”
“That’s a question for Ms. Song to answer.” Mai Qi turned to look at Song Zhenyan who had been sitting all still and quiet at the side. “Madam, since you’re here, please be my witness. Ms. Song slapped me today without cause or provocation and is trying to frame me for things I didn’t do. Even though I’m just a secretary, I’m still one that was handpicked by Mr. Fu and have loyally served him for so many years.” Mai Qi looked straight into Song Zhenyan’s eyes, “Are you willing to be my witness, madam?”
Song Zhenyan narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t said a word earlier because she wasn’t aware of the ins and outs of what had happened. But at this point, Song Zhenyan had more or less figured things out.
There was a secret surrounding the lottery box. Song Jingyu had planned for Fu Chengyan to pick herself but in the end Fu Chengyan hadn’t. As for why he hadn’t, there was only one reason. The lottery box was fine initially, but Song Jingyu switched it for a rigged one, which was then switched back by somebody else.
Song Zhenyan looked up and down at Mai Qi in outrage. But Mai Qi’s words weren’t incorrect either, especially since Song Jingyu was the one in the wrong. And if Fu Chengyan found out, then matters would only be worse particularly since he already had misunderstanding towards Song Jingyu.
“Aunt, say something! You’re the wife of Shengyuan’s Director and the mother to the CEO. Surely you’re not going to be threatened by a lowly secretary?” Song Jingyu firmly believed that Mai Qi was the one who switched the lottery box.
There weren’t many people who had access and the authority to actually do anything. Basically it came down to herself and Mai Qi.
Song Jingyu felt that she was the victim of a large scam. For so many months, she had been constantly offering pretty clothes and nice food to Mai Qi. Who would’ve known that Mai Qi would enjoy those benefits but refuse to do this for her. Mai Qi couldn’t stand it at all.
“Aunt, are you going to help me or not? I don’t want to see this woman any longer. Get Yan and Uncle dismiss her from Shengyuan!” Song Jingyu saw that Song Zhenyan was still staying quiet. “I never want to see her again! Aunt, don’t you always say you love me the most?”
“Enough!” Song Zhenyan glared at Song Jingyu. “How much longer are you going to be throwing this tantrum of yours?”
“I’m not. Aunt, she’s clearly challenging you and your status. She’s threatening…”
“Ha!” snorted Mai Qi coldly. She looked at Song Jingyu as if she was looking at an idiot. No wonder Mr. Fu would never give her the time of day. Women like her would never be good enough to Mr. Fu. It was as if she was completely nuts.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing.” Mai Qi looked at Song Jingyu before turning to Song Zhenyan. “I’m sure madam understands. This is only a job and it does me no good to make enemies. But even the tamest rabbit would bite if they were desperate. Don’t you agree, madam?”
“What do you want?” Song Zhenyan gritted her teeth. She never would’ve thought that she would be threatened by a lowly secretary.
“I don’t want anything. I’m just an insignificant secretary. I don’t have the guts to go against you or Ms. Song. So I’m sure madam, being so smart, can guess why I’m so bold right now?” Mai Qi massaged her swollen face. “I’ve left for too long. The big event is coming up. If I’m not there, not only will Mr. Fu be suspicious, but so will the whole of Shengyuan. Madam…”
“Go. Get out of my sight!” Song Zhenyan yelled in outrage. “Get out!”
Mai Qi smirked. “Thank you, madam.”
She stood up straight, held her head high, and walked out of the room.
“Aunt, how could you let her leave? She has to be the one behind the debacle today. She’s obviously trying to go against me. If it weren’t for her, then I would’ve been the one to dance the opening dance with Yan and not that woman. That…” Song Jingyu had a pit in her stomach just thinking about Shi Nuan. “Why aren’t you helping me, aunt?”
“Enough. Where is your brain? Why are they missing every time you need to use them?” Song Zhenyan was about to be frustrated to death by Song Jingyu.
Mai Qi was only a secretary. She naturally wouldn’t be so bold. Under normal circumstances, she could bluff her way out. But seeing that she was bold enough to say things so openly, then it only made sense that Fu Chengyan knew about it. Fu Chengyan knew about the rigged box but he didn’t expose them, likely because he didn’t want to humiliate them.
He very likely knew about Mai Qi being brought over here too.
While it’s true that it’s not a big deal for something to happen to a secretary, but if the secretary were one of Fu Chengyan’s most trusted aides, then that would be a problem.
“Haven’t I told you before? Be nice to Mai Qi! Aside from Zhou Zheng, Mai Qi is Yan’s most trusted person. She’s so young yet she’s managed to become the head of the secretarial department, so she’s obviously not someone to be messed with. Now look at what you’ve done. You’ve fallen out with her. What are you going to do in the future?”
