Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 27

Inside the study, Xiao He sat down in her chair. “Did I not say that if you spoke one more word, I’d have you thrown out?”

Xi Ling: “…”

She manually made an ‘X’ gesture over her mouth and quietly found a place to sit. Watching Xiao He open her laptop and prepare to work as if no one else were in the room, she finally couldn’t hold it in.

“Is there anyone like you? Are you really just going to let me sit here in silence?”

“Do you actually have business to discuss?”

Xiao He asked, knowing full well the answer. Xi Ling hadn’t been serious for a single second since she walked through the door.

“Of course I have business,” Xi Ling replied, her temper completely deflated. She sat up straight and adopted a professional posture. “Our previous collaborations went smoothly, didn’t they? So why have I been hearing… just hearing, mind you, it’s just a rumor… that you’re making big moves lately and plan to cut this line of business?”

“Your rumors aren’t very accurate. Don’t believe them so easily.”

Xiao He didn’t even look at Xi Ling as she issued the denial.

“Then give me something to feel secure about! Besides, whatever direction you want to expand into, we can always cooperate.”

Xi Ling was confident. No matter how much the outside world claimed the Xiao Group was teetering, she believed that as long as Xiao He was alive, the foundation was solid. If Xiao He were gone, she’d be the first to run.

“Stop listening to so many rumors. It’s just a necessary structural adjustment. As for cooperation, there will be plenty of opportunities.”

Eyes fixed on the screen, Xiao He’s words sounded entirely perfunctory.

Xi Ling stared at her, sulking silently for a moment. She didn’t remember Xiao He being this difficult to deal with in the past.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit her.

“Fei Jiao has been busy with an IPO lately. Also, she plans to buy the building directly across from the Xiao Group Tower to be your neighbor.”

This time, Xiao He finally looked directly at Xi Ling. However, she still didn’t speak, primarily because she already knew this.

Seeing that her guess was correct, Xi Ling became even more speechless. “If you wanted to know about Fei Jiao, why didn’t you just ask? You made me play riddles for ages. You two are unbelievable—the second she sees me, she asks about you, and you spend all this time giving me attitude just to ask about her? Why don’t you just sit face-to-face and ask each other? You’d know more than I do.”

Seeing that Xi Ling was drifting off-topic again, Xiao He withdrew her gaze, prepared to continue the stalemate.

“Ancestors, ancestors! I was wrong. I’ll confess everything you want to know, okay?” Xi Ling felt her head throbbing.

“You really haven’t told me a single word of truth. You claimed you weren’t close to Fei Jiao and didn’t know her well, but three years ago, your family’s Jintai Securities helped G Group complete their Series A financing. After that, your family put in a lot of effort regarding the land permits for the south side of the city. And then later…”

As Xiao He continued to list the facts, Xi Ling closed her eyes tight. “Why do you two have to lock horns like this? Our industrial structures don’t cross, our business scopes don’t overlap, and there’s no old or new grudge. Can’t we just be friends?”

“Then why were you being so secretive with me?”

Xiao He couldn’t believe Xi Ling didn’t have an ulterior motive.

“I… well, we aren’t a married couple. I can’t just hand over all my secrets to you, can I?”

Xi Ling tried to laugh it off and deflect.

“Is it that hard to say? Fine, I understand. You may leave.”

Xiao He had long known that the people behind G Group were not simple, but it seemed the reality exceeded her expectations if Xi Ling was this tight-lipped. Xiao He’s heart sank, though her expression remained unchanged.

“It’s so late. Aren’t you going to keep me for a meal?”

Xi Ling could sense that Xiao He had figured out what she needed to know. She had shown enough sincerity, and as for how things would develop next, that depended entirely on Xiao He. She stood up, not intending to linger further.

“You’re leaving after eating?” Xiao He wasn’t so stingy as to deny her a meal.

“No, no. I’d better go home and sleep. I haven’t been able to eat or sleep well these past few days. Now I can finally relax.”

Truly not having time to stay, Xi Ling stretched. It was time to go.

“Then I won’t see you out.”

Xiao He didn’t stand on ceremony.

Xi Ling walked out of the study and went downstairs. She happened to see Jing Shen standing with a girl she didn’t recognize. She waved to Jing Shen from a distance before getting into her car and driving off.

Chu Yuelan watched the speeding sports car and then turned to Jing Shen. “Who was that?”

“President Xiao’s friend.” Jing Shen didn’t expect Xi Ling to wave, but she didn’t elaborate to Chu Yuelan. Once, they were friends who told each other everything; now… it was complicated.

Chu Yuelan was stunned. She hadn’t expected Jing Shen to be on a waving basis with Xiao He’s friends. Even after being here for so long, she could only catch glimpses from afar, unable to even see their faces clearly, let alone have them recognize her.

Inside the main building, where only Xiao He and Jing Shen lived, how much preferential treatment was Xiao He giving her?

They both came from orphanages. Xiao Linchu was one thing—she was raised by the Elder Madam, arrived early, and held the title of an adopted daughter. But why was it that Jing Shen, who arrived so much later, enjoyed a status so vastly different from her own?

Where exactly did she fall short to always be the one ignored?

The moment Jing Shen met Chu Yuelan’s eyes, Chu Yuelan immediately lowered her gaze to hide her emotions, but Jing Shen still caught a flash of jealousy—sharp and unmistakable.

“Xiao Shuyuan’s coming-of-age ceremony is coming up soon. Have you thought of a gift? Maybe we could give one together?”

Pretending she hadn’t seen Jing Shen’s shock, Chu Yuelan pulled the conversation back to the previous topic.

Before Chu Yuelan looked up, Jing Shen had already regained her composure. “I haven’t decided if I’m giving one yet. You give yours; don’t worry about me.”

“We live under the same roof; it’s better to give something. I just thought, since you refused President Xiao’s allowance, your own funds might be tight. If we give a gift together, it’s just a matter of adding your name. It saves face, doesn’t it?”

Chu Yuelan tried to persuade her, but they had already reached the door of the main building.

“No need. Thank you for the offer, but I’m going in now.” Jing Shen refused again and stepped inside.

“Jing Shen, do we have to be this distant?”

Standing at the bottom of the steps, Chu Yuelan clenched her fists as she watched Jing Shen’s back. She was trying so hard to mend the relationship—why did Jing Shen keep rejecting her kindness?!

“Our relationship, as it stands, is only this much.”

Jing Shen didn’t look back. she had already made herself clear.

No matter how resentful she felt, Chu Yuelan didn’t dare to barge into the main building. She could only watch as Jing Shen’s figure disappeared behind the closing doors.

Jing Shen went upstairs and found Xiao He still in the study, so she went to her own room. She began to think about Shuyuan’s ceremony. She truly had nothing to give. A standard gift wouldn’t impress Shuyuan, but an expensive one would empty her entire savings and still likely be unaffordable. It was unrealistic.

After weighing it over, she felt it was better not to give anything at all. After all, she and Shuyuan were hardly friends.

Xiao Shuyuan’s coming-of-age ceremony arrived in the blink of an eye. Since Xiao He had promised a grand celebration, she was as good as her word.

The gates of the Xiao Estate were thrown open to welcome guests from all directions. A constant stream of luxury cars arrived, creating quite the spectacle. The gifts were piled up like a small mountain. Shuyuan hadn’t even begun to unwrap them; she was currently busy with her specially commissioned birthday gown.