My Paranoid Girlfriend Asks Me to Be Her Kept Woman (Rebirth) - Chapter 6

What?

Lin Yi sank completely into the soft bed.

Wuming’s peaceful voice sounded in her mind.

Hatred is here.

Ripple-like patterns spread out from around Lin Yi. She stared dumbfounded as the world instantly lost its color and was dyed gray. A conspicuous red line pointed far to the south. At its end, a red dot kept jumping and expanding.

Lin Yi had almost forgotten what Wuming had said back then. It had spoken so mysteriously that if Lin Yi had not truly died and been reborn, she probably would have tossed it to the back of her mind. But now that this miraculous sight appeared before her eyes, she had no choice but to believe that all of it was real.

Lin Yi watched the wildly pulsing red grow larger and larger. When she first saw it, it had been the size of a marble; now it had already gathered into something the size of a fist.

She asked, “What do we do now?”

Wuming’s lotus petals swayed. A transparent wave of energy passed through the red dot.

It’s still unstable right now. Wait for the right moment.

After saying this, the ripples surged toward Lin Yi again like the tide. In the blink of an eye, the world regained its original colors.

Lin Yi sprang up and looked toward the south. There, the trees were dense, and the houses stood in neat order.

What was hatred?

Lin Yi touched her heart, uneasy.

Downstairs, in the study, the three siblings stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking toward the back courtyard.

The iron fence in the backyard was hidden behind a wall of trees. It was a sea of green, rippling in the wind. The sunlight was bright, peaceful, and auspicious.

Zhao Qi was the first to break the silence in the room.

“How is Third Brother?”

Zhao Chengye said coldly, “Still the same. Useless.”

Zhao Chengzhe said gently, “He’s much better. The doctor said he’ll be fine once he thinks things through. These past two years, he’s been very active in treatment too. He no longer resists it negatively.”

Zhao Qi pressed her lips together. Zhao Chengzhe touched his younger sister’s head.

“It’s not your fault.”

“Your third brother knows that too. He’s just sick and can’t control himself.”

Zhao Qi remained silent. Zhao Chengzhe sighed inwardly and patted his younger sister on the shoulder.

Zhao Chengye glanced at his silent younger brother and sister, then walked to the desk and broke the stillness.

“Let Xiao Qi come over and look at this.”

Zhao Chengzhe pushed his younger sister along, not letting her keep standing by the window in remorse.

“Look at what good thing Eldest Brother prepared for you.”

Zhao Chengye handed the document to his youngest sister.

“This is the group’s newly developed business. You came back at just the right time, so I’ll leave it to you.”

Zhao Qi flipped through a few pages. It turned out to be a project proposal. The company had already purchased the rights to an overseas project and intended to create a new generation of superstar. It would still be based around a reality talent show, but unlike previous face-based audition shows, this program’s main focus would be “real skill” and “hard strength.”

Zhao Chengye lifted his chin. “Now that you’re back, properly get started with the company’s business. This project happens to match what you studied abroad. Do it well.”

Zhao Chengzhe winked at his younger sister. “Brother, Xiao Qi only just came back, and you’re already starting to squeeze labor out of her?”

Zhao Chengye’s face darkened thoroughly.

“Someone who spends all day doing nothing proper and only throws money outward has no right to say that.”

“Even Little Three knows how to make money by gaming and livestreaming! You only know how to pour money into things!”

Zhao Chengzhe widened his eyes in surprise. “Brother, that pillar of society who sent yachts to Little Three’s livestream couldn’t have been you, right?”

Damn it! He had let it slip!

Zhao Chengye tapped the desk, maintaining the dignity of his eldest-brother persona.

“We were talking business. Where did you run off to?!” After glaring at his second brother, he turned back to Zhao Qi.

“Xiao Qi, the company has already been registered. These next few days, I’ll assign Assistant Li to you. Familiarize yourself with this business as soon as possible.”

Zhao Qi wore a faint smile, her brows and eyes relaxed. Without asking anything further, she simply answered, “Okay.”

After they finished discussing business, they also talked briefly about the evening banquet. Then the three siblings dispersed.

As Zhao Qi was leaving, Zhao Chengye called out to her.

“Tonight, we’ll introduce your return to the outside world. Your sister-in-law will also come back. She…” Zhao Chengye sighed. “Don’t take it to heart.”

“Brother,” Zhao Qi said with the corners of her lips raised, “I won’t.”

Night soon descended. A few scattered stars dotted the darkness.

The large lights at the entrance of the Zhao residence switched on, illuminating the road outside the gate as brightly as daytime. A continuous stream of cars drove into the Zhao estate.

At the entrance, the butler busily assigned people to direct traffic and receive invitation letters. Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

In the hall, the crystal chandelier glowed with flowing brilliance. A buffet of tea and desserts was laid out before the floor-to-ceiling windows. A small band played melodiously indoors, while people in suits and gowns were scattered everywhere, chatting in groups of two or three.

Lin Yi changed into the formal dress Zhao Qi had sent over.

It was a pink evening gown. Under the light, the white-gold and rose-gold powder shimmered. She let down her hair and picked up a curling iron, styling it quickly with a few motions.

The makeup on her face was light and delicate. Lin Yi also added some fine flecks of gold powder.

When she lifted her face, the gold powder on her skin sparkled with tiny lights, just like the gown.

Knock, knock—knock, knock—

That knock.

It was Zhao Qi!

A smile bloomed across Lin Yi’s face. She jogged over with quick little steps and opened the door.

“Why did you come over? You should be very busy today. I can manage by myself. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Zhao Qi narrowed her eyes slightly. How was Lin Yi so certain the person outside the door was her?

But in the next second, the beauty before her burned her eyes.

Lin Yi’s pink hair had been curled into natural arcs. Her face was palm-sized, her eyes moist and clear, and a light blush had been applied to the corners of her eyes and her cheeks. Her nose was small and delicate, and her lips were glossy. Fine specks of light shimmered across her face, making her look innocent and pitiful, yet full of temptation.

At this moment, she was lifting her face and looking up at Zhao Qi, as if Zhao Qi’s entire being was reflected in her eyes.

Zhao Qi lowered her gaze and saw Lin Yi standing barefoot on the dark red wooden floor.

The red looked even darker, and the white looked even more dazzling.

Her throat moved twice before she said lightly, “I came to bring you something. Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

Lin Yi pulled Zhao Qi inside. She could already hear the noise coming from downstairs.

“I just tried on the shoes, then took them off while doing my makeup.”

“What did you bring?” Lin Yi asked curiously.

Zhao Qi pressed Lin Yi down to sit in front of the vanity.

“I happened to find it just now and thought it suited you very well.”

She opened the box, and a set of pink diamond jewelry appeared before Lin Yi’s eyes.

Lin Yi let out a soft gasp. “This…”

It was actually the birthday gift Zhao Qi had given her in her previous life!

She had not expected it to appear before her eyes so soon…

Zhao Qi brushed aside Lin Yi’s hair and put the pink diamond, about the size of a fingernail, on her.

“It suits you very well.”

Lin Yi stared blankly as she touched her neck. The soft pink crystal emitted a faint glow.

She knew what this set of pink diamonds was called.

The Heart of True Love.

It was one of the keepsakes left to Zhao Qi by her mother. In her previous life, after Lin Yi received this set of pink diamonds, Zhao Qi had confessed to her…

Her heart began beating faster, and her gaze unconsciously followed the person in the mirror.

Zhao Qi was as simple and elegant as always today. Her long curly hair had been tied up neatly and cleanly. She wore a red spaghetti-strap evening gown, a broad black suit jacket draped over her shoulders, and ten-centimeter sky-high heels on her feet. Her hand was still resting near Lin Yi’s neck, and the scorching heat from it almost set the back of Lin Yi’s neck aflame.

“I…”

“Xiao Qi, are you inside? I heard from the servants that you were with your friend.”

There was a knock on the door, followed by a woman’s voice.

Zhao Qi’s voice paused, and she did not continue. After tidying Lin Yi’s hair, she moved lightly and quickly walked to the door to open it.

“Sister-in-law.”

“Xiao Qi, the Wang family has arrived. Your eldest brother asked us to go receive them.”

“Okay.”

Standing by the door, Zhao Qi turned her head and looked deeply at Lin Yi.

“A servant will bring you downstairs later. Have fun and don’t hold back.”

The door slowly closed. Lin Yi stared blankly as she touched the necklace.

What did that mean?

What had the woman been about to say just now?

Her mind was in complete chaos.

Downstairs, Zhao Qi’s sister-in-law wore a smiling face as she took her son from a servant’s arms.

The little boy hugged his mother’s leg and secretly peeked at Zhao Qi.

His big eyes were full of curiosity about who she was.

Although her sister-in-law was smiling, her posture was cold. She had no intention of introducing his aunt to her son at all.

When the Wang family was escorted in by the butler, she held her son’s hand and left Zhao Qi with only her back.

Zhao Qi silently followed.

Lin Yi stood in a corner of the hall, watching the situation on Zhao Qi’s side.

She did not dare drink alcohol, so she held a glass of juice. She had not forgotten what Zhao Qi had mentioned in her previous life, nor had she forgotten Wuming’s sudden appearance.

Something was definitely going to happen at this banquet!

Over there, everything was calm. Zhao Qi wore a faint smile as she spoke with people. A lady standing nearby patted her shoulder. Lin Yi did not know what she said, but a group of people covered their mouths and laughed.

The music suddenly stopped. Zhao Qi nodded to the people beside her and withdrew with her sister-in-law.

Lin Yi observed the people present but did not see anything unusual.

Everyone’s attention in the hall focused on the Zhao family.

Lin Yi’s gaze also fixed on Zhao Chengye.

Zhao Chengye said a few formal words, then began introducing Zhao Qi.

“This is our family’s Xiao Qi. From now on, the group’s cultural industry sector will be taken over by her. I hope everyone here will offer Xiao Qi more guidance and support in the future.”

“You’re too polite.”

“President Zhao, you flatter us.”

The people below echoed him one after another. Lin Yi stared at Zhao Qi without blinking.

At this moment, she was dazzling and glorious. At such a young age, she had already taken over part of the family business, standing on the shoulders of giants.

But Lin Yi knew how much hardship Zhao Qi would suffer after this, and only at the end would she truly take up this brilliant baton.

No!

As Lin Yi watched, she suddenly realized that a gap had opened up behind Zhao Qi. Someone was approaching her step by step!

Her eyes widened as she saw white light reflect onto that person’s face, revealing a ferocious expression.

“Zhao Qi!” she screamed. The glass in her hand fell, and she lifted her skirt as she sprinted madly toward Zhao Qi.

“What?”

“What happened?”

The hall erupted into commotion. Zhao Qi heard the voice and immediately spotted Lin Yi’s panic from within the crowd.

Her face was full of confusion. Lin Yi pushed through the crowd and saw that the black shadow had already reached Zhao Qi’s back and raised a knife.

“Zhao Qi, watch out!!!”

Lin Yi screamed again and threw herself at Zhao Qi. The world turned gray all at once.

Tidal waves surged out from her body, and the guiding red line pointed straight at the black shadow. A nameless burst of energy shot out.

Wuming called out inside Lin Yi’s mind.

Hatred has erupted! Collect it quickly!

W-what?

Lin Yi was still badly shaken.

Hurry! Wuming urged. I’m about to lose control of it!

Lin Yi seemed to sense something. She closed her eyes, and the perception in her mind grew even clearer.

Energy seeped out from around her, wrapping around that restless mass of red energy.

The lotus mark over her heart flashed. The red vanished into the lotus, and one lotus petal slowly bloomed.