Rebirth of an Idle Noblewoman

Panda Novel

Gu Xiqiao took Yang An to a coffee shop.

Yang An was at first confused why she brought him here, until he saw Yang Haotian and some other people.

A slender figure was sitting opposite Yang Haotian, and his back was facing them. Yang An couldn’t see how the person looked, but judging by the documents scattered on the table, this person was most likely the one in charge from Chu Enterprise.

Gu Xiqiao found a seat to the left of them, a very obvious place, one where Chu Ziheng could see them the moment he raised his head.

He nodded towards Gu Xiqiao, a smile on his face as usual. His face was kind, his eyebrows elegant and a flawlessly handsome face. “Miss Gu, no, it should be President Gu. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Treating a friend to coffee.” Gu Xiqiao leaned back against the chair, an indifferent expression on her face. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, turning to look at Yang Haotian with a smile.

It was only natural for Yang Haotian not to forget Gu Xiqiao’s face, and he felt as though she could see through him with her clear bright eyes. But when he thought about all the things that he had done, and how he was sure all his tracks were airtight, he swiftly calmed himself. He began to explain and introduce the engine to Chu Ziheng.

Yang An sat across from Gu Xiqiao, listening to Yang Haotian’s words. His fist was clenched tightly, how could Yang Haotian’s face be so bloody thick? This engine was something that had taken him two months to make before it was successful, when did it become his creation?

“President Chu, it took me half a year to make this engine work. Your secretary has also taken a look at its functions…”

Bang!

Yang An finally couldn’t hold it anymore, slamming his first on the table.

He bit his lips harshly, lowering his head. “Sorry great god, I need to go to the washroom.”

Gu Xiqiao picked up her coffee, nodding at him. She silently mouthed the word ‘endure’ at him.

There was nothing betraying her feelings on her face from the start, even her eyes were blank, a calm and peaceful appearance. Yang An felt half his frustrations disappearing when he looked at her, and he nodded his head, before standing and heading to the washroom.

Chu Ziheng was still looking through the documents that Yang Haotian had brought, and seeing that it would take a while, Yang Haotian got up to follow Yang An.

In the washroom, Yang An had just finished washing his hands, and bumped into Yang Haotian. The other was also bent down, washing his hands.

“Yang An, did you think that you could take back Yang Enterprises just because you found someone to back you up? You’re still the same as before, stupid as ever.” Yang Haotian sneered at Yang An who was about to leave.

Balling his fist, Yang An wanted to give him a good solid punch, but then he remembered what Gu Xiqiao had said and he lowered his hands. Glancing to give him one last look, Yang An left the washroom. “Yang Haotian, I’ve already signed a contract with Nine Heavens. I will definitely take back everything that belongs to me one day!”

Yang Haotian watched Yang An’s retreating figure, laughing lowly. “What a lucky guy. It’s a pity that he’s just too naive.”

“That’s right. Having the courage to go against you, just because he rubbed shoulders with President Gu.” The person beside Yang Haotian said with disappointment in his voice. “I don’t know whether to say he’s stupid or just plain naive.”

Yang Haotian left the washroom after that, quickly returning to Chu Ziheng’s side.

“President Gu.” Just before he sat down, Yang Haotian turned to Gu Xiqiao, his tone respectful and sincere. “This here is my little brother, he hasn’t studied properly since he was young, and always got into fights during his high school days, and has changed schools a few times due to that. I heard that he’s signed a contract with you, and I’m sure he has told you that he’s the one who made the engine. Do you believe someone like him could really do such a thing?”

Yang Haotian continued to look at Gu Xiqiao, and also at Yang An from the corner of his eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see Yang An’s face paling at the words that he had just said.

Yang Haotian smiled even more sinisterly, he didn’t need any evidence, because Yang’ An’s own attitude and actions was a black spot that couldn’t be erased from his history.

He would wait, wait for Yang An to once again be abandoned.

“Why wouldn’t I believe him?” Gu Xiqiao took a sip of her coffee, and feeling it was too bitter, she added a spoonful of creamer to it, stirring it slowly with a spoon. She looked up at Yang Haotian, her skin as white as snow, and her eyes were cold as it. “I believe him.”

The smile on Yang Haotian’s face turned downwards, and it froze. He didn’t expect Gu Xiqiao to reply to him that way, he wouldn’t even have believed it had he not heard it with his own ears. There was someone who said they believed in Yang An, it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard!

Yang An was stunned after hearing Gu Xiqiao’s words. This was the first time someone had said they believed him.

“President Gu, don’t let your emotions affect your decisions.” Yang Haotian chuckled. “A person like Yang An…”

“Please wait a moment, Mr. Yang Haotian.” Gu Xiqiao took another sip, and set it down, pushing it aside after she found it still too bitter. Reaching out, Jiji placed the laptop in her outstretched hands, and she placed it on the coffee table. She tapped on the keys quickly, pulling up a video. Turning it around, she faced it towards Yang Haotian, giving him a gentle smile. “Let me show you something precious.”

The words made Jiji’s mechanical hand move even stiffer than usual.

Yang An, who had been touched by her previous words, suddenly felt like he didn’t know if he should be crying or laughing at that.

Even Chu Ziheng, who was watching the show from the side had a strange smile on his face.

Yang Haotian looked down, the calm on his face disappearing instantly when he saw what it was, the blood draining rapidly from his face. Taking a step back, he struggled to form words. “No, that’s impossible…”

How was that possible? When he went into Yang An’s room, there was no surveillance installed in the room at all, how could there be a video of him stealing the engine? “This must have been fabricated, it’s fake!”

“Fabricated?” Gu Xiqiao smiled brightly at him. “It’s not, you’ll know when you see it. Oh right, there’s also a recording of your theft, listen.”

As she said that, her slender fingers tapped the keys, pulling up an audio file with Yang Haotian’s voice.

“So what if Yang An tells anybody? The engine is already in my hands, it doesn’t matter if he was the one to make it, who would believe him…”

At this point, Yang Haotian knew that this was definitely fake, because he had never said anything like that before!

“This is definitely fake, I’ve never said anything like that before. I’ll sue you for defamation!” Yang Haotian’s confidence returned instantly and he looked at Gu Xiqiao. “I’ll get the police to investigate this!”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to wait. I’ve already sent these to the police an hour ago, I believe they’ll be fair and just in their investigation and judgment.” There were no changes in Gu Xiqiao’s expression. “So before the police come, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll show you something else.”

Her fingers slid across the board again, her pale fingers contrasting brightly against the black of the keyboard.

She leaned back against the chair, the laptop somewhat suspended as she did, but it didn’t affect the speed of her fingers.

Her posture was relaxed and even lazy, but the look on her face was serious, a cold hard glint in her eyes, which somehow made her flawless jade-like face even more dazzling.

Chu Ziheng looked at the page that popped up on the screen, and his gentle face finally showed a touch of astonishment. He looked at Gu Xiqiao, then back to the screen again, his eyes widening slightly.

Yang Haotian watched as Gu Xiqiao hacked into his computer, pulling out all the encrypted files on it. There were files on the money that he had used to bribe people, and some on how he had used improper means to discipline his subordinates in Yang Enterprise, and his mother… evidence that he had arranged for his mother’s death.

2

With all of this in front of him, Yang Haotian’s face switched from indignation to horror. How could the software that he had bought from those hackers be so easy to crack?!

“President Gu, this isn’t my doing, it’s his!” Yang Haotian’s legs felt like jelly, and it felt like it couldn’t support his weight any longer. He pointed to the executive that was beside him. “This was all his plan to hurt me!”

The executive’s face was surprised, looking at Yang Haotian in disbelief.

Gu Xiqiao kept her laptop away, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, but not saying anything.

As Yang Haotian was panicking, two policemen suddenly entered the coffee shop. They came to stand in front of Yang Haotian, flipping open their officer ID. “Mr. Yang Haotian, we’ve received several documents from someone who’s suing you on grounds of theft, bribery, intentional harming, and intentional homicide. Please come with us.”

Everything happened so quickly, it hadn’t even been half an hour since they had sat down.

Yang An sat in the chair, staring blankly as Yang Haotian was taken away into a police car. He didn’t come back to his senses for a long time.

Was Yang Haotian done for, just like that?

Yang An turned to look at Gu Xiqiao, who was still forgetting to add creamer to her coffee. Horror and awe surged in his heart.

She had collected so much evidence in silence? Not to mention the crimes of bribery and intentional homicide, but those videos and recordings, where did she find them? Even he hadn’t known the existence of those, but she had so easily pulled them all out.

She had been calm since the beginning, and just when Yang Haotian got arrogant and let his guard down, she gave him the most vicious blow, shattering his spirit instantly.

Yang Haotian should be doubting his entire life right now, right?

Now he finally understood how a young girl like her could develop Nine Heavens into what it was today, and he finally saw why his professor would admire this person so much.

“I’ve always heard that President Gu is close to being a demon.” Chu Ziheng smiled suddenly. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes today, it’s a well deserved and fitting reputation indeed.”

“Did you enjoy the show?” The coffee tasted bitter no matter how much creamer she added to it, and so she finally gave up on making a sweet cup of coffee. She raised her head, looking at Chu Ziheng with clear, cold eyes.

Chu Ziheng paused, mulling over his words before replying, “I’m grateful for President Gu’s help in helping our company avoid this loss.”

“Grateful?” Gu Xiqiao stood up, moving over to his table to pick up the folder on the table. She flipped it open, showing it to him. “Then why don’t you tell me, President Chu, why the contract is empty?”

Being confronted so directly on the matter, Chu Ziheng didn’t look embarrassed in the least. “Nothing gets by your eyes, President Gu.”

Gu Xiqiao set the folder down, lazy to deal with him anymore. She raised her chin to Yang An, indicating that they were leaving.

Yang An stood, still in his dazed state, following behind Gu Xiqiao.

Chu Ziheng stood up too, looking at Gu Xiqiao’s retreating back and suddenly said, “President Gu, I’d like to discuss a big collab project with you. I believe you will be very interested in it.”

“A collab?” Gu Xiqiao halted in her steps, turning slightly, narrowing her eyes at Chu Ziheng.

Chu Ziheng smiled, nodding his head. He gave his secretary a look, and the secretary quickly pulled out a new contract. “Let’s find a milk tea shop and discuss this over a drink.”

Gu Xiqiao rubbed her fingers together, then she pulled out a few name cards from her pocket, handing it to Chu Ziheng’s secretary. “The first card is our general manager, Mr. Mu’s. You can talk to him about whatever collaboration you have. If it pertains to financial aspects, please refer to the second card, Mr. Luo. For online games, look to the third, Mr. Yu Ning. That should be all, right?”

Chu Ziheng nodded his head, slightly taken aback.

“Then see you.” Gu Xiqiao turned and left without looking back.

Jiji followed behind her in a hurry.

Behind them, Chu Ziheng finally pulled himself together. “Interesting, so very interesting!”

“President Chu, that Yang Enterprise…” The secretary was hesitant to speak about it.

Chu Ziheng glanced at his secretary. “Don’t think about it, even if there were multiples of you, it wouldn’t be enough for her to play with. Mr. Mu… alright. Let’s go find that Mr. Mu!”

***

Yang Haotian had already been tossed into prison, and was currently in interrogation. He kept insisting that he had been framed, that the video and audio recordings were fake, and it was Nine Heavens that had set him up deliberately.

The police that was interrogating him coldly shouted, “We’ve already had the evidence checked out by professional hackers, there’s no trace of it being tampered or falsified. Also, Nine Heavens is such a big company, why would they need to bother with a small speck of a company like yours? They don’t even need to move a pinky to crush you! Why don’t you just come on out and admit it already?”

***

In the room, Gu Xiqiao closed the screen.

Jiji stood beside her, playing games on its own computer. “Why did you interfere in this matter, Beauty Qiao?”

“Chu Enterprise.” Gu Xiqiao picked up her phone, sending a text to Mu Zong. She narrowed her eyes, then went back to fiddling with her computer. “I just wanted to know what the heck Chu Enterprise is up to.”