Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  “Bai Yang forest.”


  These few words from the woman stunned the initially calm and composed Qiao Jingyun, and shock flashed across her eyes, which were originally full of mockery.

  “What did you say? What forest?” she demanded at once as she tried to recollect her emotions.

  Pei Shishi, who had a clear finger on things from her deduction, did not buy it, however.

  “Won’t you know after you come?”


  She then hung up the phone without waiting for her reply.

  Listening to the dial tone, Qiao Jingyun’s fingers, which were gripping the phone, turned white.

  Her eyes were gloomy as well.

  “D*mn it!”


  She threw the phone on the bed, her face vicious and malicious. There was no sign of her usual poise.

  After a long while, the woman standing at the bedside suddenly smiled as her mood returned to normal.

  “Not bad, Pei Shishi; I’ve really underestimated you.” she muttered sweetly, her face full of smiles.

  “Fine. Since you want to have a go at me, two can play at this.”


  A dark light flashed in her eyes as an eerie smile spread across her face.

  “Do you think that you’re the only one who carries other people’s secrets? He he.”
……

  The place that Pei Shishi asked her to meet was not a hidden location or a private suite. It was just a seat located in the main hall.

  Although it was a seat in the main hall, it was still rather secluded.

  Most importantly, this café could not be patronized by many.

  Thus, few people were in it.

  Qiao Jingyun only found the woman sitting in a corner after she was shown the way by a server.

  “The place you picked isn’t bad.”


  She eyed the surroundings and then laughed plainly. Setting her bag on the chair at the side, she took a seat herself.

  “Doesn’t it fit your taste?”


  The other glanced at her and then lowered her head to sip her aromatic coffee.

  “It’s okay.”


  Once she ordered coffee and dessert, she pouted and leaned lazily against the chair.

  Even though the seat was situated in a rather secluded corner, there was a giant window overlooking a small garden next to it.

  Looking at the beautiful flowers and the few occasional coffee trees, she only had the urge to sleep lazily in the sun and felt her head getting heavier by the moment.

  However, before she could fall asleep, she was startled awake by the other woman’s words.

  “I’m just going to come out and say it; I’ve found out your biggest secret.”


  A hint of jealousy flashed across Pei Shishi’s heart when she saw how poised and elegant this lady across her looked.

  They were the same, so why could this woman cling onto Ji Ziming and grow up with him?

  “Oh? My biggest secret……”


  Qiao Jingyun’s sleepiness disappeared instantly. She opened her half-lidded eyes to peer at the other.

  “Stop pretending. Neither of us are dummies.” The other scoffed. Excitement was evident on her face.

  “Pfft! Ha ha!” She laughed aloud as if she had heard a joke.

  “What are you laughing about?” Pei Shishi got an ominous feeling from Qiao Jingyun’s carefree smile.

  “Nothing much; I just recalled something funny.”


  The other shrugged and sat up straight in the comfy chair as she looked piercingly at her.

  She swallowed her saliva nervously at this piercing gaze directed on her.

  “You mean to say that my biggest secret is that Bai Yang forest?”


  Qiao Jingyun picked up the coffee that had just been served and took a sip elegantly.

  “.……” Pei Shishi’s confusion grew at how nonchalant the woman was acting.

  She could not fathom why she would be so calm.

  “Are you very disappointed in my reaction? Do you think that I shouldn’t react this way?” Qiao Jingyun taunted when she saw her confused look.

  “.…… Don’t think that I don’t know how much you value this secret just because you’re behaving this way!” spat Pei Shishi as she glared at the other. “Don’t pretend that everything is fine. What if Ji Ziming finds out that you’re not—”

  Before she could finish speaking, the other woman cut her off.

  “Shhh! I understand what you’re trying to say.” Qiao Jingyun put a finger to her lips and looked at her with a smile. “Now, tell me; what do you want in exchange for this little secret of mine?”


  She felt that she had regained some pride when she heard the woman’s words.

  She arrogantly raised her chin and looked at the other mockingly.

  “You don’t deserve his love, so……”


  At this point, she paused and looked in provocation at the other.

  “So?”


  Surprisingly, Qiao Jingyun did not get upset when she heard her words. She even looked at her with an encouraging smile.

  “After your plan is complete, let me be with—”

  Alas, she was cut off mid-speech by the other again.

  “Did you think that only you could get a hold of other people’s secrets?”


  The ominous feeling in her heart grew the moment she heard this.

  “W-What do you mean?!”


  “Shh! Don’t get too agitated. Just like you, I know your little secret, too.”