20 Setting up

Shi Yen attempted to get back on track with her work. She went to the lab, immersing herself in developing new smooth and creamy formulas for her eye shadows and lipsticks. She'd always been drawn to vampy looks; thus, she created makeup with reds, blacks, purples, and anything in between.

Her sister, on the other hand, was the one who created soft colours for their other collections, balancing each other out.

Shi Yen's main goal was to create products that were affordable and all-inclusive. So she spent the day testing, creating more shade ranges for all her products.

By the end of the day, she removed her lab coat and headed home.

Shi Yen checked the mailbox, flipping through the envelopes as she walked inside the house. She found her sister in the living room, as Shi Yen put her mail aside and began to warm up her dinner.

"Don't forget Fang Qi's birthday is in two days," Shi Ailin told her, entering the kitchen.

Shi Yen glanced at her. "I almost forgot."

"And I suppose you don't have a date. Fang Qi has requested every one of his guests not to come alone. I'm his date for the night; he's doing it to make someone jealous," Shi Ailin said, rolling her eyes.

Shi Yen chuckled. "I'm going alone."

Shi Ailin sighed. "You could go with Yuan Shun."

Shi Yen looked at her sister with a flat expression before she burst out a laugh—real, hysterical laughter. Shi Ailin couldn't tell if she should be worried or happy that Shi Yen was laughing as hard as she was. It was a sound she'd missed hearing.

Shi Yen calmed down, and said, "Tell Fang Qi that I won't go unless I am allowed to go alone."

Shi Ailin pouted. "Fine." She then left, calling a number on her phone. She called Fang Qi, away from Shi Yen's ears. "Your plan didn't work," she greeted.

A deep sigh escaped from Fang Qi on the other line. He didn't say anything, almost thinking of something. "I have another idea," he said.

"I don't like this…" she said. "I've never schemed against my sister."

"It's not scheming; it's simply encouraging two people to get along. They strongly dislike each other and if it gets any worse…then we're all in trouble. You'll be doing a service to society," he said.

"You're so dramatic!" Shi Ailin countered. "But I see your point. Yenni does need to move on."

Shi Ailin felt that Shi Yen hadn't felt any genuine happiness in years. For a long time, she'd been numb to everything. It took a year to hear her say more than a one-word reply during conversations; it took longer to see her smile.

But that one day she'd seen Shi Yen around Yuan Shun, and she'd witnessed more expressions on her face at once than ever before: irritation, annoyance, amusement, fascination, lust. She felt like he's the key to help Shi Yen move on in more ways than one. But she'd always been too stubborn to let anyone else in.

"I still don't think it will work," Shi Ailin said.

"We'll see about that," Fang Qi replied.

...

Fang Qi had gone over to the Yuan main house.

He went up to the porch and walked in unceremoniously. He went to the living room, finding a young woman lounged on the couch with her bare feet propped over the headrest while reading a book. Her vibrant red hair splayed on the couch pillows, telling him she'd been reading all day.

"Xinyi," he greeted.

Yuan Xinyi lowered her book, her cognac eyes widening to meet his. She sat up quickly, straightening the folds of her dress. "My brother is still at work if you're looking for him," she said.

"I came for you," Fang Qi replied too casually, causing her cheeks to burn.

"What is it?"

Fang Qi raked a hand through his brown, sun-kissed hair with golden threads. "It's about Shun. I'm trying to set him up."

Yuan Xinyi frowned. "We've tried it before. It didn't work."

"Yes, but this time it's different."

"How so?"

"Have you heard of Shi Yenni?"

Yuan Xinyi's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? Doesn't she want to kill him?"

"Yes to both," Fang Qi replied sarcastically. "But, Yuan Shun is interested. I know it, even if he doesn't admit it."

"How are you so sure?" she questioned.

"Because Shi Yen intrigues him. Think about it. Why is Shi Yen still in business? You know what Yuan Shun does to all his rivals and enemies. And yet, he hasn't done anything legitimate to harm her."

"What if he's bored?" Yuan Xinyi replied. "Instead of making it easy, he's playing a game, slowly."

Fang Qi furrowed his brows. "I didn't think about that, and it doesn't make it any better that it might be something he'd do."

Yuan Xinyi smiled. "It's something I'd do."

"Which makes it more terrifying," he replied.

Yuan Xinyi laughed. "So what can I do to help?" she asked.

Fang Qi grinned at her. "I knew you'd come around."

Yuan Xinyi rolled her eyes.

"I need you to be Shun's date to my birthday party."

"Huh?" she replied.

"You and Shi Yen haven't met. All you have to do is show up with him. That's it."

"How would that help?"

Fang Qi shrugged. "It might provoke something…I don't know. She could get jealous, maybe? I just need them to talk."

Yuan Xinyi burst out a chuckle before she calmed down. "You really know nothing about women," she said.

Fang Qi was taken aback. "May I remind you that I have plenty of experience in the field, both in pleasure and courting."

Yuan Xinyi flushed, but Fang Qi didn't notice. She shook her head. "If Shi Yen is anything I've heard, she might not even be fazed by me."

"She will," Fang Qi said.

"How could you be sure?"

"Because you're smart and beautiful. Any woman would be intimidated by you," he admitted.

Fang Qi didn't seem to notice that his words affected her. Yuan Xinyi's heart raced and twisted. She'd always liked him, but he treated her as a sister and never saw her as a woman. She knew he didn't like her back because he'd been pining after some woman he would secretly see. So how could he say that so casually?

"Who are you going to the party with?"

"Shi Ailin. Yen's sister," he replied.

Yuan Xinyi bit down her lower lip in disappointment. "I'll go with Shun," she replied. "I'll call my date and cancel on him," she lied. She didn't have a date at all, but she wanted to get a rise out of Fang Qi.

He furrowed his brows. "You had a date?" he questioned.

"Is it so unbelievable?" she countered.

"No…" he replied. "You're just usually as reserved as your brother."

She lifted her chin. "Well, I met someone I found attractive one night, and we went out for a few drinks," she lied.

Fang Qi looked at her curiously through his stunning blue eyes. "Just make sure he's a good person. I'll kick anyone's ass if they've ever harmed you."

Yuan Xinyi felt like she was being tortured. She stood up to leave without saying a word.

"Where are you going?" Fang Qi asked.

"Out!" she said.

Fang Qi furrowed his brows. Did he say something to piss her off? Lately, he felt like anytime he spoke with her, she'd argue with him about something. But he figured that it was usual for youngsters. She was twenty years old.

When he had been twenty, he met her when she was fourteen through Yuan Shun. Back then, she'd follow him around, and they got along. He'd only seen her as a friend.

He took her to places she wanted to go to. She was very bubbly, cheerful, and obedient, and now she would get irritated with him, leading to small arguments.

What was with her? Fang Qi leaned his back, sighing, not understanding. Perhaps she was right. Maybe he knew nothing about women.