Imperfect D.e.s.i.r.es - Chapter 887
“Manipulation?” Xiu seemed to be tasting that word as it rolled around her tongue. “Xin Suyin’s love for Liu Nuan was also a manipulation. She believed that if she gave her everything, then that daughter of hers would worship her. If she was giving love, she expected it in return as well. Perhaps that’s why Chen Xiu’s hatred managed to tear her so deeply.”
Liu Mingfan chuckled, “It’s interesting seeing her getting played like this. She loved to play with people’s lives and now that someone is playing with her, it’s a novel feeling. But I like it.”
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Xiu pointed out.
Liu Mingfan didn’t try to hide it, “I am enjoying myself. For the first time in years, I feel free. And it’s a good show, why won’t I enjoy it. However, I wonder how will she react once she learns that Chen Xiu also wasn’t her daughter.”
“But I don’t want her to know that,” replied Xiu. “I want her to live with this reminder that she killed her daughter. She didn’t feel guilty when she ordered to kill other people’s families, now it’s time for her to learn how it feels.”
Liu Mingfan took a sip of the tea but his eyes were focused on Xiu. He was wondering how such an innocent-looking girl actually had such wicked ideas. But it was also a good thing. At least, she won’t be taken advantage of in this twisted world.
“I have a question for you.”
“Please…”
“What kind of grudge do you have with Suyin?”
Xiu leaned over to place the teacup on the table before fixing the cushion behind her back to lean back comfortably. “Do you know who I am, Mr. Liu?”
Liu Mingfan nodded his head, “Currently, there isn’t a single person in our circle who doesn’t know Bai Xiu, Xin Zemin’s daughter. It’s been weeks and yet, you’re still a hot topic.”
“Well, that’s a given. Until now people gloated over how Xin Zemin doesn’t have a child of his own and now, that he has me… I’ve become a gossip over tea time.” She took a pause to look outside the window, “I believe you don’t know that your wife knew about my identity for a long time now. Why do you think it’s only now that I found my family?”
Liu Mingfan straightened up as he gazed at her, “She… What did she do to you?”
Xiu scoffed, “What she is best at. She manipulated me into killing my own mother.” Liu Mingfan’s eyes widened in shock and anger. He had to hold the armrest of the sofa to control himself. “Then she continued to threaten me to stay away from my own father. She even kidnapped me to scare me off. All in all, she played me well. And I was young and hot blooded, I got played easily.”
Although all of that wasn’t something she had gone through, however, since the moment she regained Destiny’s memories, all of this became something she experiences herself. She could perfectly describe the emotions that Destiny went through at that time. Betrayal, disgust for herself, helplessness, vulnerability, and the pain in her c.h.e.s.t that took her life. She could feel it all. All of those memories and experiences were embedded in this body. And all of it was now a part of her.
It took a while for Liu Mingfan to grit out, “She is really impossible!”
“Did you have any doubt?” inquired Xiu. “She believed after getting rid of me, she’ll be able to smoothly pressure Xin Zemin into giving up his rightful position to inherit the whole Xin family and business. Her goal had always been to snatch the Xin family. After all, her parents were killed for that power. How could she not want that power back?”
“You’re right. She always wanted that so-called power.”
“Now, Mr. Liu, why don’t you tell me why you really wanted to see me?” She glanced at him, “It can’t possibly be just for some idle talk.”
Liu Mingfan pulled out a folder from the bag he was carrying and placed it on the table between them. However, he didn’t push it towards her. With his hand on the folder, he said, “There is something inside this folder that can be a great help to you.”
“And you want to make a deal here,” Xiu completed his sentence for him.
Seeing how she easily managed to guess his intention, he smiled a little, “It’s always a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e talking to smart people.” He nodded his head, “I do want to make a deal.”
“But is there something I can give you? Why can’t I think of anything?”
He shook his head, “No, there is really something you can give me.”
“Then let’s hear about what you can give me,” Xiu straightened up and gave her full attention to him. “Let’s see if it’s enticing enough.”
“I believe you’re looking for the real mastermind behind everything,” said Liu Mingfan. “The information I have can help you find that mastermind. Is it enticing enough?”
Xiu tapped her chin, “What do you want in return?”
“Where is Devi… I mean where is Chen Hana?”
Xiu chuckled at his question. She had a vague guess in her mind that that’s what he wanted to know but she didn’t think she was right. That’s exactly what he wanted to know from her.
“What makes you think I know where she is?”
“Even if you don’t know the precise location, you can still find it out.”
Xiu fell into thought for a while as she continued to observe him in silence. There was nothing wrong with her probing gaze and yet it made people feel slightly uncomfortable. It couldn’t be helped, she seemed to want to see one’s soul.
“Even if I give you her location, it’s of no use,” she finally spoke up. “She is in vegetative state. It’s no different than death.”
“It’s different,” claimed Liu Mingfan with his hands clenched in tight fists. “In death, you have no hope. At least, now, she is breathing. There is still hope.”
“I didn’t know you’re such a hopeful person,” said Xiu.
“When you have nothing else, you can only hold on to some hope. Without that little hope, wouldn’t life be a little too depressive?”
Xiu thought about it for a while before nodding her head, “Alright. Let’s do it that way.” She pointed at the folder with her chin and Liu Mingfan slid the folder towards her. As Xiu picked up the folder, she said, “I’ll inform you about the details of her location by tonight. Also, I’ll make sure you get the access to see her as well.”
She didn’t know how she was gonna ask Xiao Li about Chen Hana but that wasn’t that big of a difficulty. It’s not like Xiao Li would refuse her for anything. Her brother was easy to deal with. She didn’t know why people said he was difficult though.
After a few more words. Liu Mingfan left. Behind him, Xiu opened the folder and looked through the content. There were a lot of audio recordings, photos and some doc.u.ments. Xiu’s brows were knitting together as she looked through everything before her.
“Jiu!”
“Yes?” Bo Jiu was startled as soon as she walked inside the Suite. She looked at Xiu in surprise and wondered what she had done to make Xiu look at her so strangely. “Did I do something?” she inquired. “If I did, I’m sorry. Just don’t look at me like that. It’s kinda scary.”
Xiu wanted to roll her eyes at her but held herself back. “I won’t eat you up.”
“I highly doubt that,” muttered Bo Jiu to herself.
“Stop cursing me and come here,” instructed Xiu and Bo Jiu ran over.
“Yes, boss! How can I help you?”
“Look at this,” Xiu placed the things before her. “It seems we overlooked something while investigating the Xin family.” Bo Jiu picked up the doc.u.ments and her brows raised up. “Let’s look deeper and thoroughly. I don’t think the mastermind is hiding too deeply.”
Bo Jiu looked at Xiu, “By why would this person…?”
Xiu looked back at her, “That is exactly what we have to find out. Why would this person of all people do it? It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense at all.”
Bo Jiu almost fell over and she grumbled, “I have to work overtime again.”
“Are you complaining right now?”
“Never! Never ever!” announced Bo Jiu. “I’ll do just as you say. I don’t dare complain.”
“You better not,” said Xiu. “I’ll also look through it.”
Xiu’s brows were still furrowed up even when she had instructed Bo Jiu to do her job. Right now, she was really confused. She had doubted every single person when she was investigating the Xin family but she never doubted this person. Only this person, she never doubted and it seems that’s where she was wrong all along.