The Villain's Wife

Thursday, October 13

Lily narrowed her eyes as she stared at the news on her laptop. Suspicions and conspiracy theories started churning inside her head as she continued to watch the news.

Qin Liwei got into a fatal accident?

Normally, this would not really concern Lily. However, this matter is different now that Qin Liwei just threatened her and Zhuo Jingren just a few days ago.

"President, I am sorry to disturb you, but President Zhuo is calling. He said he had been calling on your personal phone but he couldn't go through," Yang Mi's voice interrupted her.

"Alright." Lily held her hand out as she accepted her personal phone from Yang Mi. "Are you seeing this?" she instantly asked the moment she answered the phone. She concluded that the reason of this phone call was related to the news that she was watching.

"I didn't do it," Zhou Jingren responded, his tone contained a hint of anxiety, surprising Lily. She lifted an eyebrow, amusement swirled in her eyes as she eyed Yang Mi, cueing the secretary to leave her office.

"I know," she uttered.

"No… you don't know that," he answered, unconvinced by her words. "I could have easily done it and lie to you. So I want to make it clear now that… I didn't do it. Qin Liwei doesn't have anything substantial that would be able to incriminate me."

"He was a clown," Lily added. "A clown that will be used to frame you." Lily heard Zhuo Jingren sigh on the other line. She could still feel his anxiety about what had happened. For some reason, Lily found it cute that he was worried about what she would think. Wait… Why was she enjoying her man's misery?

Lily laughed at her own thoughts before she closed the tab that was showing the news about Qin Liwei's accident. "Someone will think that you are responsible for all this. The timing is just… too convenient."

"I know. But the important thing is that you believe me. Their opinions about me does not matter at all." He let out another sigh. "I am coming over."

"What for? Aren't you busy?" Lily asked.

"Well… I have a catalogue for the most ideal places to get married. Let's check it together."

"Can't we do this later? Tonight?" she let out a small giggle at the fast shift of their conversation. Both of them knew that a storm was looming over them, threatening to destroy their peace, so the thought of discussing a wedding in the middle of all this was somewhat funny.

"I want us to decide by the end of the day. Any of these venues would require us to make a reservation at least two months in advance."

"Is that so?"

"Hmmm… wait for me. I will bring you lunch," he said before he bid her goodbye.

…..

The news of Qin Liwei's car accident instantly caused unrest in Qin Industries. A lot of investors wondered what would happen to the company now that Qin Mo and Qin Liwei could no longer manage the business. To everyone's surprise, Qin Mo suddenly declared that he would take back the CEO position now that his own son is unfit to run the company.

He especially mentioned how his current state won't hinder him from running their family's company. And just like what Lily predicted, he hinted that some powerful people were involved in his son's accident.

Qin Mo said how it wasn't an accident as his son does not drink nor does drugs. How could his car have collided into one of the wall trees in Hong Kong in broad daylight? It wasn't an accident! Someone attempted to murder his son and he won't stop until he finds out the truth about the matter.

"This Qin Mo is smart enough not to mention your name," Lily uttered as she sucked in another breath. She savored the sweet and sour smell that was wafting out of their kitchen and closed her eyes. Her elbows were resting on the counter as she continued to listen to the evening news. At the gentle sound of dining ware hitting against the counter, she opened her eyes and focused on the sweet and sour pork that was generously served with rice in front of her.

Lily gave Zhuo Jingren a brilliant smile, her eyes were sparkling at the sight of her favorite sweet and sour pork.

"He wouldn't do that," Zhuo Jingren said. "As I said… they don't have a lot of materials against me. Qin Liwei tried to blackmail you. He was banking on the possibility that you don't know enough details about me. He might have thought that our marriage is still because both of us found it convenient. A marriage because of money."

"Hmmm." Lily nodded, her attention focused on the food in her bowl. She felt her mouth water. Lily did not hesitate anymore. She picked up her chopsticks to take a piece of pork and tried her best to act as elegantly as possible while eating in front of Zhuo Jingren. However, in less than a minute, her façade broke down as she shoved another piece of pork in her mouth. "So good!" she said, before she closed her eyes, savoring every bite.

Zhuo Jingren could only shake his head, helplessness and gentleness covered his face. He turned towards his food and started eating dinner. After they had decided on the ideal location for their wedding, they decided to just head home so he could cook her favorite dish for her.

"Well… I expected that he wouldn't mention your name. At least not this early. I think… whoever is using Qin Liwei will also use Qin Mo soon," Lily said, her voice full of undisguised nonchalance. "I will strike first. I don't want them to drag your name into all of this."

"Really? What do you have in mind?"

"Just some things," Lily replied vaguely as she shifted her gaze away from her sweet and sour pork. She gave Zhuo Jingren a knowing look before she continued, "And don't worry. I am not planning to prolong this or go to the long and winding road that you hate so much. I will handle Qin Mo… your style."

"You will kill him?"

"Of course not! That man is evil and treacherous. I have my plans but for now… I want to clarify that we do not have the motive to hurt his son."

"And? How will you do that?" Zhuo Jingren asked. He always found Lily's ways pretty peculiar, it would always make him curious; make him want to guess what she was thinking behind that brain of hers.

"I will make Qin Industries mine," she proudly declared before shoving another slice of pork in her mouth.

"Uhhh… wouldn't that make people assume that you are the one responsible of Qin Liwei's accident? They will think that you asked someone to kill your brother so you could have the company for yourself."

"Not really," she answered. "Qin Mo will soon declare that Qin Liwei found a few incriminating evidence against you." Her lips curled into a smile as she used a napkin to dab on her lips. "He will not say that it was you who tried to murder his son and that he was simply stating a fact, leaving the people and the shareholders to connect the dots."

"So he will make Qin Liwei the victim and I the villain."

"Oh… he is a victim, alright. We are in a world where weak people almost always become the victim of evil schemes from the stronger ones, the smarter ones.  But… once I get the company from him, the opinion of the people will shift from you to me. They will think that I am the one responsible for what happened to my brother." Not many people know that Lily is someone from the main branch of the Qin Family.

"Then?" Zhuo Jingren asked as he served a glass of red wine to his wife.

"Then… I will show them that I don't need to kill people to acquire companies." She beamed. "And face slap Qin Mo with evidence that Qin Liwei was drunk at the time of the accident. Pictures of him doing drugs will spread like wildfire and you and me will sit here… enjoying another meal of sweet and sour pork over some wine."