The Counterattack of a Wealthy Family's Substitute

At first, she was vaguely worried that this woman might be Xu Hengyuan's mistress, but seeing that she had the air of a young lady from a prestigious family, she inwardly told herself that she was overthinking it.

How could someone like that possibly be interested in a hypocrite like Xu Hengyuan?

Zhou Qianqian asked warily, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Yao Yingxi glanced at her coldly, then smiled as she looked around: "It's not appropriate to talk here. Let's find a place to sit down and talk."

Seeing Xu Hengyuan's other women reminds Yao Yingxi of what happened back then. Men who have had affairs are just looking for something new; He Qinfang and Zhou Qianqian are examples of this, and in terms of looks and temperament, they can't compare to her mother.

Zhou Qianqian didn't say anything, and the two left for a coffee shop.

"I know you must be very curious about who I am and why I asked you to come here."

Zhou Qianqian was surprised that her thoughts had been revealed. She was stunned for a few seconds and remained silent, which was taken as an admission.

"Don't be curious, I won't hurt you."

Yao Yingxi continued, "I know your identity. You are Xu Hengyuan's current mistress and have an eight-year-old child."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qianqian looked at her warily and suspiciously, "Were you sent by He Qinfang?"

Yao Yingxi sneered: "Don't try to guess my identity. I'm not from the Xu family and I won't do anything to harm you. I'm here to talk business with you."

"I don't know you, what business could we possibly have to discuss?"

"Money means business."

Seeing that the person opposite her seemed to have softened a bit, Yao Yingxi continued, "I want you to go to Xu Hengyuan's house and make a scene, to make a big fuss about you and your child, the bigger the better, ideally so that all the media reporters know about it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qianqian frowned slightly. "I'm doing very well now, with no worries about food or clothing. Why would I do this?"

"It won't do me any good to make a scene in the media."

She has been well protected over the years, and very few people know that she was a mistress.

Yao Yingxi's lips curled into a sneer: "No worries about food and clothing?"

"The Xu family will soon be doomed. You have no status or legitimacy. Even if the Xu family has assets to divide, do you think you'll get a share? And will you still be able to live a life of comfort?"

Zhou Qianqian retorted, "Why should I believe you and cooperate with you?"

The Xu family was very successful in the outside world, so how could they go bankrupt?

“You may not believe me, but you’ve been by Xu Hengyuan’s side for so long, don’t you know about the Xu family’s situation, or whether the Xu family has evaded taxes or bribed officials?”

Yao Yingxi tapped the table with her fingers: "The government has been investigating very strictly in recent years. After they find out, can the Xu family still protect themselves?"

"Besides, your child is grown up now. Even if Madam Xu doesn't do that, are you willing to let your child remain an illegitimate child forever?"

She listed out the pros and cons to Zhou Qianqian one by one.

Zhou Qianqian hesitated for a long time.

Yao Yingxi continued, "In this respect, I think He Qinfang is better than you."

"Unwilling to remain a mistress forever, she used every means to climb the social ladder, so that she could enjoy the wealth and respect of others."

Zhou Qianqian frowned. "I'm sorry, even if you say that, I can't cooperate with you. I think I'm doing very well now."

"Just like you said, that woman used every means to get to the top, she must be no pushover."

Xu Hengyuan gives her enough money every month to cover her expenses, and he will grant her whatever she wants. This Mrs. Xu is not what she truly desires.

Yao Yingxi nodded. "In that case, Miss Zhou, please don't blame me for being impolite."

She paused, then stared coldly at Zhou Qianqian, "This is the path you, Miss Zhou, chose yourself."

Yao Yingxi picked up the coffee on the table, took a sip, and put it down. Her cold gaze was just like Xi Yuanchen's: "I wonder what Xu Hengyuan's expression would be if he knew that his mistress was keeping another man?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qianqian trembled, her eyes darting nervously to Yao Yingxi, "You..."

Yao Yingxi's lips curled into a sneer: "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. Miss Zhou, do you really think what you did is flawless?"

"You and your college classmate Zhou Sheng were in a relationship for three years, but because of money, you ended up with Xu Hengyuan."

Her fingertips rubbed the coffee stains on the rim of the cup. "At a party, you two rekindled your old flame."

"Tell me, if I tell Xu Hengyuan all of this, what do you think he'll do?"

Her eyes were fixed on Zhou Qianqian, not missing a single emotion.

Zhou Qianqian was still in shock, staring at her in astonishment.

Yao Yingxi said quietly, "By the way, you and your boyfriend have been together for so many years, the child probably isn't Xu Hengyuan's, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qianqian froze, her thoughts drifting as she weighed the drawbacks of cooperating with the woman in front of her.

Yao Yingxi took in all her emotions. She got up from the table, pretending to leave.

She didn't want to give this woman a chance to hesitate.

Zhou Qianqian quickly stood up to stop her: "Wait, I agree to cooperate with you."

In the shadows where no one could see, Yao Yingxi's lips curled slightly.

Yao Yingxi sat back down in her seat.

Zhou Qianqian asked, "What benefits will you give me if I cooperate with you, and what do I need to do?"

Yao Yingxi picked up her coffee and took a sip, concealing the joy of impending revenge within her. She slowly put down the cup, her eyes coldly fixed on Zhou Qianqian.

Zhou Qianqian felt uneasy under her gaze, as if she were a naked person who had been seen through.

"I'll say it again: I'm telling you, go to the Xu family and cause a scene, make a huge fuss, make a scene that's the talk of the town."

She changed the subject: "As for the benefits, I'll give you five million if you succeed."

Five million? Zhou Qianqian wasn't particularly interested; it wasn't a lot of money for her.

However, since someone has a hold on her, she can't make demands and can only compromise.

"Can you guarantee you won't tell Xu Hengyuan anything you know?"

Yao Yingxi's eyes sharpened. "Of course."

After a long pause, Yao Yingxi continued, "But... I can't guarantee that He Qinfang won't find out."

She tapped her fingers on the table. "You need to be quick about this, otherwise if He Qinfang finds out, our cooperation will be null and void."

Zhou Qianqian gritted her teeth and said, "Deal. I hope you can keep your promise after it's done."

Five million isn't a lot, but it's enough for her to live comfortably after getting rid of Xu Hengyuan. Although it won't be as luxurious as it is now, at least she won't have to endure being beaten up when Xu Hengyuan is drunk.

Yao Yingxi stood up from the table, and the collaboration was officially finalized.

She stepped out of the coffee shop, the cold wind blowing against her face, ruffling her hair and making her even more alert.