The Cold Alpha's Black Lotus O Strategy Plan (GL) - Chapter 36

“We arrived late today. The final performance is Mount Dingjun,” the executive assistant said.

Walking ahead to lead the way, she scanned the QR codes on their electronic tickets and guided Lü Zhongcai and Fang Zhiming into Mingyuefeng Theater.

There were not many people inside. The surroundings were decent enough—at least the building was impressive and fully equipped, making it look like a proper opera house.

The seats in the first row had already been taken. Those were the best positions for listening to the singing and watching the performers.

The three therefore chose a spacious area several rows back. They could still survey the entire stage, and the view was reasonably good.

The selected scene from Mount Dingjun featured Huang Zhong, Liu Bei, and Zhuge Liang.

It told of the conflict between Shu and Wei, in which Huang Zhong accepted a military pledge before Zhuge Liang and successfully killed Xiahou Yuan.

Three male-role performers appeared onstage, each wearing elaborate painted masks. Their voices were powerful when they entered, penetrating enough to carry throughout the entire auditorium.

Fang Zhiming listened happily with his eyes closed, one hand resting on the antique rattan chair as he nodded along from time to time.

The executive assistant did not understand opera and found the performance somewhat torturous, so she took out her phone and began handling work.

Although Lü Zhongcai understood how to appreciate opera, she was not particularly fond of it. The person who enjoyed opera was Lü Jianming.

Lü Jianming came from Sichuan and had served in the military. He later settled in Shandong and, through a series of coincidences, entered the coal business, eventually becoming what others called a coal tycoon.

He loved opera—Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Huangmei Opera.

Other coal bosses supported female celebrities. He supported opera stars instead, going so far as to establish a musical theater troupe in Shandong and fund it entirely himself.

That was how he later met Meng Yuqing and had Lü Zhongcai.

Lü Zhongcai watched the performance, her back lightly resting against the chair.

Her folded suit jacket lay beside her on the rattan seat, concealing much of her figure.

From behind, a familiar figure in a short-sleeved shirt and jeans approached carrying a teapot.

“Hello. Would you like some tea?”

Lü Zhongcai froze and turned her head.

A stream of water poured into the teacup.

Following it upward was an exquisitely crafted ceramic pot, antique in style, held by five slender fingers as pale as white jade.

Higher still was Jin Sique’s slightly astonished face.

Fang Zhiming suddenly startled and rose from his chair.

“The water spilled,” Lü Zhongcai said, recovering first.

Jin Sique jumped and immediately pulled back the teapot.

Hot water had splashed onto Fang Zhiming’s trouser leg. Fortunately, it was not scalding, though it had soaked a large section of the fabric.

“I’m sorry.”

Jin Sique apologized immediately and pulled tissues from the tea table, intending to wipe Fang Zhiming’s trousers.

Halfway through the movement, her body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

She hesitated for only a second before the tissues were taken from her hand.

“I’ll do it.”

Lü Zhongcai accepted the tissues from Jin Sique and handed them to Fang Zhiming.

Fang Zhiming took them and wiped his trousers casually a few times. He had already lost much of his interest in the performance.

The opera onstage continued as usual.

Mazi came over to inspect the situation.

“Oh, the water spilled?”

He smiled apologetically.

“I’m terribly sorry, honored guest. We keep spare casual clothing here. Would you like to change?”

In a teahouse theater, spilled water and overturned alcohol were common occurrences.

Many devoted opera fans were wealthy patrons whom the theater could not afford to offend. To prevent situations like this, Mazi had devoted considerable effort to managing every detail.

“There’s no need.”

Fang Zhiming waved a hand, indicating that it was unimportant.

“Just be more careful next time.”

Lü Zhongcai looked at Jin Sique.

Jin Sique turned her gaze away, then gave Lü Zhongcai a strained smile.

She said sincerely, “Is this your first visit? Why don’t I ask the kitchen to send over some food?”

“It won’t cost much. Please consider it a small apology.”

Lü Zhongcai frowned.

052 reminded her, “The black lotus wants you to pretend you don’t know her.”

“Mm.”

Lü Zhongcai settled back into the rattan chair and accepted the proposal.

The executive assistant was absent, so Lü Zhongcai lowered her head and sent her a message.

Fang Zhiming had lost interest.

“That’s enough. Let’s end things here today.”

Lü Zhongcai stood again and left Mingyuefeng Theater with him.

Mazi and Jin Sique escorted them outside, neither servile nor arrogant. They also presented them with several complimentary tickets and invited them to return.

Standing beside the car, Fang Zhiming examined Jin Sique.

Jin Sique wore a faint smile.

“I apologize. If you don’t mind, I can compensate you.”

“Are you an employee here?” Fang Zhiming asked.

“No.”

Jin Sique quickly glanced at Lü Zhongcai.

“I came here to—”

Mazi interrupted with an ingratiating smile.

“Sique is a student. She works here part-time.”

Jin Sique: “…”

“Mm.”

She smiled helplessly.

Lü Zhongcai opened the car door.

“Mr. Fang.”

Fang Zhiming took out a business card and handed it to Jin Sique.

“This is my card. Contact me at any time.”

Lü Zhongcai’s gaze paused.

She looked deeply at Jin Sique, then closed the car door.

As the vehicle drove away, the smile on Jin Sique’s lips turned cold.

She then looked toward Mazi.

Mazi regarded her as though frustrated by her failure to understand.

“Why did you insist on acting tough? He never even asked for compensation. Now you’ve made it impossible not to compensate him.”

Jin Sique: “…”

She sighed, folded the business card in half, and stuffed it into a roadside trash can.

Then she stared blankly in the direction the car had disappeared.

“Little Sparrow, why did you throw away his card?”

Jin Sique made a soft sound and replied casually, “I memorized it.”

“…”

052 said darkly, “You didn’t know this, did you? Even though you’ve been married for two years, and despite giving the black lotus a generous allowance every month, she still takes part-time jobs whenever she has the opportunity.”

“During her first year at university, she frequently worked as a tutor or at cafés outside the campus.”

“Last year, she began appearing regularly at Mingyuefeng. Mazi is an old acquaintance and formerly worked at Wangchun Pavilion. He was responsible for arranging rehearsal schedules and handling guests.”

“As Wangchun Pavilion gradually declined, he was also the first person to leave.”

Lü Zhongcai pressed her fingers against her brow.

The car stopped in front of a five-star hotel.

The executive assistant hurried over and opened the door for Fang Zhiming.

A shopping bag hung from her arm, containing replacement clothing of the same style that Lü Zhongcai had instructed her to purchase.

“Rest well.”

Standing beside the car door, Lü Zhongcai inclined her head toward Fang Zhiming.

“I’ll arrange to resolve the matter involving that child.”

Fang Zhiming smiled gently.

“How are you planning to resolve it? Don’t make things difficult for her.”

The corner of Lü Zhongcai’s mouth moved.

She turned and got back into the car.

The driver hesitated before asking, “President Lü, are we returning to the company?”

Her phone vibrated.

Lü Zhongcai looked down and saw Lu Baimei calling.

She answered, then told the driver, “Go home.”

The driver started the car and glanced at Lü Zhongcai through the rearview mirror.

“What is it?” Lü Zhongcai asked.

Lu Baimei’s lazy voice came through the phone.

“I heard you went to meet a client. Who could possibly be important enough to keep you occupied for more than five hours?”

“Fang Zhiming,” Lü Zhongcai replied.

“Who is Fang Zhiming? He—”

Lu Baimei’s voice abruptly stopped.

Then it rose sharply.

“Fang Zhiming?”

“What did he come back for?” Lu Baimei asked warily.

“I don’t know, but City A is his hometown.”

Lu Baimei realized she had said too much.

She laughed on the other end.

“Don’t blame me for overthinking it. Fang Zhiming is still relatively young and vigorous. What if…”

She deliberately left the remainder unspoken and laughed mysteriously.

After the call ended, Lü Zhongcai massaged her brow.

By the time the car reached the villa, a fine drizzle had begun falling again. Beneath the dim yellow streetlights, it covered the world with a dreamy, ethereal haze.

The driver left with the car.

Without disturbing anyone, Lü Zhongcai walked toward the entrance one step at a time.

Jin Sique had not returned, and Aunt Guo was already asleep.

Lü Zhongcai changed clothes, showered, and poured herself a glass of red wine.

She sat before the bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling window, sipping it as her gaze settled on her right leg.

“I thought you didn’t care,” 052 said.

Her voice was particularly abrupt in the darkness.

Lü Zhongcai frequently experienced the illusion that 052 did not exist inside her mind but was an invisible person who followed her everywhere like a shadow.

Lü Zhongcai looked out the window.

“You exceeded your prescribed rehabilitation activity while accompanying Fang Zhiming today,” 052 continued. “You could ask someone to come and massage your leg so it can relax.”

Lü Zhongcai finished the wine and went to the study to review documents.

“Aren’t you curious?” 052 asked. “Whether Fang Zhiming will have any further involvement with the black lotus, why the black lotus continues taking cheap part-time jobs, and—”

“She is an independent young woman,” Lü Zhongcai said, using that sentence to describe Jin Sique.

“Perhaps she is preparing for employment after graduation.”

052 made a soft sound.

“Then aren’t you curious about Fang Zhiming and the black lotus?”

Lü Zhongcai remained silent.

At that moment, sounds came from downstairs.

Several minutes later, Jin Sique pushed open the door and looked toward Lü Zhongcai in the study.

“You’re still working?”

Lü Zhongcai stood and returned to the bedroom with her.

“You didn’t go back to the university?”

“We’re on holiday.”

Jin Sique turned her back to Lü Zhongcai and placed her bag on the sitting-room sofa.

“That…”

She suddenly said, “I threw away the business card.”

Lü Zhongcai glanced at her, then nodded.

“You don’t need to respond to that matter.”

“Is he one of your business partners?”

Jin Sique picked up her nightclothes and prepared to shower.

Lü Zhongcai shook her head.

“He was the branch’s previous CEO. He is considered a senior and offered me some assistance during the transition.”

Jin Sique stood still and pondered for a moment before entering the bathroom.

“She’ll contact Fang Zhiming,” 052 said with a cold laugh.

Lü Zhongcai picked up the Kindle beside the bed and did not respond.

“After all, only one year remains in your marriage. She can begin searching for her next target,” 052 continued.

Lü Zhongcai’s brows drew together.

“What are you talking about?”

“She will contact Fang Zhiming,” 052 said in an icy, certain tone.

Lü Zhongcai stopped answering and calmly continued reading her e-book.

Endless silence spread throughout the room.

The scent of gunpowder pheromones slowly drifted outward.

Jin Sique opened the bathroom door.

She wore a towel wrapped around her damp hair and carried the mist of the shower with her.

Her hand, which had been massaging the back of her neck, suddenly stopped.

Her body reacted before her conscious mind did.

“Zhongcai?”

Lü Zhongcai turned naturally toward Jin Sique.

“What is it?”

The place that had been marked only two days earlier had already become faintly hot under the influence of the pheromones.

Jin Sique rubbed the back of her neck and examined Lü Zhongcai’s expression with a slight frown.

“Your pheromones,” she said quietly.

Lü Zhongcai froze.

She reached up and touched the back of her own neck.

“Are they leaking?”

Jin Sique slowly exhaled.

Hidden in the shadows where Lü Zhongcai could not see, disgust appeared on her face.