Chapter 40：First World: Us Girls Have Each Other's Back

The desire to conquer and possess is one of the fundamental natures of mankind and Zhao Huangzhi was no exception. She had set her heart and soul on Qie Ranzhe and Qie Ranzhe alone. To cultivate their relationship, she made sure to visit Qie Ranzhe every chance she got bringing along snacks and other miscellaneous gifts to give him regardless of his aloof and distant attitude towards her. But soon she noted an interesting pattern. If she visits Qie Ranzhe in the absence of Lin Jingxie, he would ruthlessly turn her down but when Lin Jingxie was there he would put on a forced smile and reluctantly accept her gift.

It seemed Lin Jingxie was the key as he would always take her side reprimanding Qie Ranzhe for being rude. She hadn't figured out what Lin Jingxie had against Qie Ranzhe that made him so compliant that he would listen to every word Lin Jingxie said as though it was law. From then on she only visited whenever the two of them were together giving her an opportunity to get closer to him without getting pushed away.

Her plan was working perfectly that was until she noticed how well Qie Ranzhe treated Lin Jingxie. Qie Ranzhe was hard on Lin Jingxie's heel like an obedient puppy dog brainlessly following behind its master. He was a completely different person unveiling the other side of him that would make any girl obsessed with him. She desperately wanted him to look at her like that and only her graduating from a mere afterthought to the main focus in his life. Their interaction rubbed her the wrong way constantly eating vinegar each time they hung out and so she decided to eliminate the best friend out of the equation.

There was one such person who could make that possible and that was the famously sweet Lee Jienjie. It was a well-known secret that Lee Jienjie worshipped at Lin Jingxie's feet constantly visiting the Lin Mansion just to see him. A determined Zhao Huangzhi decided to pay Lee Jienjie a visit at the famous tea house were she frequented at.

As soon as she walked up the stairs, she noticed the cutesy looking pretty girl in a blue dress sitting with her servant waiting to be served. "Not as pretty as they say but she will do," said Zhao Huangzhi to her servant following behind her.

"Yes, she's ugly when compared to you Miss," said the servant sneaking a glance at the bubbly Lee Jienjie. Zhao Huangzhi lazily waved her hand gesturing for her to find the host to serve her. She strutted towards Lee Jienjie surrounded by a tyrannical aura that had everyone along her path giving way pressing against the wall as though trying to merge with it just to escape from her. One servant serving in the tea house even chose to press his body against a customer just to flee from her.

The customer began to loudly scold the servant calling for the host but shut his mouth when he made eye contact with those gorgeous fiery eyes that could suck your soul dry if you aren't careful. The hairs at Lee Jienjie's nap suddenly stood up with goosebumps all over her body sensing impending danger. She scanned around looking for the source when Zhao Huangzhi suddenly appeared before her like a poltergeist. The two girls gazed at each other for a while as though sizing each other up while Lee Jienjie's servant quietly slipped away as she was smart enough to quit while ahead giving the two ladies their private time.

Zhao Huangzhi broke the silence first with a fixed smile. "Miss Lee is indeed as beautiful as they say," she said before sitting down on the other side without even consulting her. Lee Jie was well aware of Zhao Huangzhi's identity. She was the left prime minister's daughter with close relations to the royal family though she had never seen the emperor in person. What was a prominent figure like her doing in such a small town? It was because she had come to pay her grandmother a visit but extended her visit for someone special and wouldn't leave until she had him eating out of the palm of her hand.

"Mi-miss Zhao, to what do I owe such a visit?" she asked stammering a little. If she said she wasn't terrified that would be a big ass lie. She was scared to death because of the rumours of how ruthless Zhao Huangzhi could be. Don't be deceived by that innocent sweet smile she wore around town, it was just a mask. This Zhao Huangzhi sitting right in front of her was the real Zhao Huangzhi exposing her true face.

"Relax, you and I have common interests," she said as the host personally served them various sweet and delicious cakes coupled with a hot steaming brew at the centre of the table. She waved her hand dismissing the host who wanted to say a few words but was abruptly cut off and scurried away getting the hint.

Lee Jienjie was confused but tried to hide it saying, "Miss Zhao we have never crossed paths so how can we have common interests?"

Zhao Huangzhi's servant who was standing behind her moved over and poured some tea for Zhao Huangzhi's before retreating to her original position like a statue. Zhao Huangzhi gently swirled her porcelain cup gazing at it while saying, "Are you interested in Qie Ranzhe?" with threatening undertones.

Zhao Huangzhi finally looked at her with an appealing expression as though approving of her answer. "Then we do have common interests. Us girls should have each other's backs. Eat up, I am treating you to celebrate our partnership," she said before sipping her tea with an eerie smile. Lee Jienjie had no idea what this conversation was leading too and slowly began to eat scared to piss Zhao Huangzhi off.

'Eat up you fuckin pig,' thought Zhao Huangzhi placing another cake into her plate.