Chapter 131: Chapter 99: The Matriarch’s Demeanor

All he needed to level up was one more top-tier girlfriend.

Qi Sheng already had a target in mind.

Based on feedback from Xu Ying, Pei Yinyin did seem to have a good impression of him.

They would occasionally exchange a few messages after adding each other on WeChat.

Even though Qi Sheng didn’t reply often, Pei Yinyin was very patient.

She never threw a fit, which left Qi Sheng with a decent impression of her.

Meanwhile.

Bracing herself, Xu Ying forced a smile and greeted Tan Hua.

"Huahua, you’re looking great today."

"Mm, it’s all thanks to my boyfriend. Speaking of which, when are you going to bring your boyfriend out for us to meet?"

’Tan Hua really hadn’t expected her so-called good friend to be such a great actress.’

’She hadn’t noticed a single clue.’

"Ah, he’s very busy. Maybe when there’s a chance."

Xu Ying couldn’t help but steal a glance at Qi Sheng. As if she would dare to actually bring him out.

She’d die of social embarrassment in a heartbeat.

"Heh, what’s his last name?"

Tan Hua rolled her eyes and continued to press her.

"Er, his last name is Sheng."

’Xu Ying never would have thought Tan Hua would be so curious about her supposed boyfriend.’

’Luckily, she was quick on her feet and just reversed Qi Sheng’s name.’

"Oh, so his name is Sheng Qi?"

Seeing that Xu Ying wouldn’t give up until she was cornered, Tan Hua decided to expose her little secret directly.

"Huahua?"

Xu Ying was genuinely stunned. She couldn’t believe Tan Hua actually knew.

"Huahua, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have..."

Xu Ying was indeed filled with guilt toward Tan Hua.

Ever since they’d met, Tan Hua had helped her out a lot.

When she was struggling to find a place to rent, Tan Hua had transferred her own leased apartment to her without a second thought.

Compared to a girl as kind and beautiful as Tan Hua, Xu Ying felt deeply inadequate.

She would never have dared to harbor any ambitions of competing with her for Qi Sheng.

To her, actively seducing Qi Sheng in the bathroom that day was a true betrayal of their friendship.

But as someone who had been struggling in the big city for several years, and working in the flighty world of luxury sales, she knew all too well how important an opportunity could be.

And Qi Sheng’s response hadn’t disappointed her.

An allowance of 50,000 yuan a month was more than what she’d earn in three months of back-breaking work.

’Who could possibly turn down a shortcut like that when it was placed right in front of them?’

’Especially when he was a tall, rich, and handsome man with great looks and a great body.’

’What woman wouldn’t be tempted?’

So, yes, Xu Ying felt incredibly guilty toward Tan Hua.

But if she had to choose again, ten thousand times over, she would still seduce Qi Sheng.

"I’m not planning on cutting you off. Later, go ahead and terminate the lease on your current place."

"You can move in with me from now on. It’ll be nice to have some company."

’Since Tan Hua had accepted this reality, she naturally had to learn how to win people over to her side.’

And just like that, a moved Xu Ying quickly pledged her loyalty to Tan Hua.

"Huahua, don’t worry, I won’t have any other ideas. From now on, whatever you say goes. If you say east, I won’t dare go west."

"We’re friends, besties, and now we’ll be comrades-in-arms. I trust you."

’Tan Hua sighed internally. What woman would ever be willing to share her man?’

’But when a man was that exceptional, he was bound to attract a flock of beautiful women.’

’As a smart woman, Tan Hua was already learning to adapt.’

’She was even proactively managing this ’big family’ of theirs.’

’As long as her own position wasn’t threatened, she couldn’t be bothered to care how many other women Qi Sheng had on the side.’

...

Miduo was organizing inventory in the stockroom when she saw Qi Sheng walk in.

A flash of delight was quickly followed by a pang of nervousness.

"You’re saying Huahua knows about us?"

Although Miduo had been mentally preparing herself for this, she never imagined the day would come so soon.

"It’s okay, I’m here. Huahua understands your situation. She’s already accepted you and Xu Ying."

Taking advantage of the empty stockroom, Qi Sheng pulled the professionally-attired Miduo straight into his arms.

At thirty years old, she was in the prime of her life.

Qi Sheng knew very well that Miduo had an excellent figure.

Her mature, voluptuous figure exuded femininity without needing to be revealed.

Her black suit-dress looked very formal, but in Qi Sheng’s eyes, its only purpose was to serve as a uniform fantasy.

Gazing at the mature, full curves beneath the fabric, Qi Sheng couldn’t help but swallow.

’Come to think of it,’ he thought, ’it had been a while since he’d last been with Miduo.’

No words were needed. They fell into a passionate, almost suffocating kiss.

The kiss ignited the pent-up longing between them, making it burn fiercely.

When they finally, reluctantly, pulled apart, Miduo’s misty eyes were smoldering with desire.

Though consumed by passion, Miduo clung to a thread of reason.

"Darling, don’t wrinkle my clothes. I have to meet with people in a little bit."

This particular environment was certainly stimulating.

But the sales associates often came to the stockroom to retrieve merchandise, so the two of them couldn’t stay for long.

Qi Sheng nodded and pushed her down.

Miduo obediently knelt.

When the two of them emerged from the stockroom, talking and laughing, they seemed perfectly normal.

Many of the suspicious sales associates were left feeling both confused and disappointed.

Only Tan Hua and Xu Ying exchanged a look, both silently cursing Qi Sheng in their hearts.

It was painfully obvious to them that the two of them hadn’t just been ’doing nothing’ in the stockroom.

After arranging the shift rotations for the sales associates, Miduo headed over to the men’s department.

Seeing the teasing looks in Tan Hua’s and Xu Ying’s eyes, she couldn’t help but blush crimson.

"Huahua, I..."

’Miduo felt guilty toward Tan Hua, but that didn’t mean she was going to leave Qi Sheng.’

"It’s okay, Sister Miduo. I’m not mad at either of you."

"I know about you two now. I guess you could just call it fate."

"From now on, we’re truly sisters."

Tan Hua took the initiative to hold Miduo’s hand, putting on a show of magnanimity.

Her gesture moved the guilt-ridden Miduo.

"Huahua, you’re so kind."

Miduo truly hadn’t expected Tan Hua’s reaction to be so gentle.

She had even braced herself to be slapped and called shameless.

"By the way, he bought you an apartment at Renheng Riverside Bay?"

Tan Hua linked arms with Miduo, thinking to herself that at least Qi Sheng had a shred of conscience.

"Mhm, it’s being renovated right now. It’ll be a few months before I can move in, so I’m staying with Xu Ying for now."

A blissful smile spread across Miduo’s face as she talked about the apartment.

"That’s wonderful. I have some experience with interior design, so I can help you with some ideas when the time comes."

Tan Hua had always had a good impression of Miduo, seeing her as a kind, understanding older sister figure.

Since she’d started at the company, Miduo had been a patient mentor to her.

Now that they were ’sisters’ in this new sense, their bond had become even closer.

"That would be great! I’ll have to trouble you for your opinion then, Huahua."

Miduo naturally understood this was all just polite talk.

Tan Hua was making a show of goodwill.

Since she had no other ambitions, she was more than willing to stay on good terms with Tan Hua.

"Could you two stop with the humblebragging? I’m the only one of the three of us still mooching off someone."

Listening to Miduo and Tan Hua discuss their decorating experiences, Xu Ying was green with envy.

Tan Hua lived in a luxury home worth tens of millions.

Xu Ying could be envious of that for a while, but she could accept it.

But for Qi Sheng to actually buy Miduo an apartment at Renheng Riverside Bay—a 313-square-meter luxury flat at that...

She had originally thought her 50,000 yuan monthly allowance was a pretty sweet deal.

But compared to the 7.5-million-yuan luxury apartment in Miduo’s name, her allowance suddenly seemed rather pathetic.

She also knew that the luxury apartment was, in part, compensation born from Qi Sheng’s guilt.

But her own standards weren’t high. A small, 100-square-meter nest to call her own in the future would be enough.

Of course, for an ordinary person, 100 square meters was already a dream home.

But with her two besties, Miduo and Tan Hua, living in 300-plus-square-meter mansions-in-the-sky, 100 square meters was barely the size of one of their living rooms.

Qi Sheng, who was idly chatting with a group of sales associates, noticed Xu Ying shooting him a resentful look.

’Clearly, she’s been worked up by her two besties,’ he thought. ’Alright, time to sort her out.’

’She took my money, so she can’t run from her obligations.’

Qi Sheng sent Xu Ying a WeChat message, telling her to clear it with Miduo.

Without a second thought, Miduo approved Xu Ying’s request for leave.

She didn’t need a psychic to know that Xu Ying was going out to be with Qi Sheng.

But Miduo couldn’t get away, and Tan Hua had just been thoroughly worn out yesterday.

So she was more than happy to push Xu Ying forward to let Qi Sheng empty a few rounds first.

Later tonight, the three of them would join forces.

Tan Hua, for one, refused to believe Qi Sheng would still be able to act so high and mighty after that.