“General Manager, this is the new version of the contract I’ve revised according to your instructions and the previous draft. Please review it. Additionally, Mr. Han will be arriving in an hour to discuss matters further.” Que Tang placed the blue folder on the desk.
Lan Mi didn’t take it. Instead, she rested her chin on her hands, propped up by her elbows on the desk, staring at her assistant’s attire with a half-smile. Finally, she shook her head. “Xiao Tang, your skirt is past your knees today. Do you think we’re still in the conservative sixties? If you’re afraid to show off your ‘Absolute Territory,’ you could at least switch to something three centimeters above the knee.”
A vein instantly popped on Que Tang’s forehead. Ever since Lan Mi’s excessive antics in her kitchen last time, she had completely shed her persona as a bashful assistant. She no longer pulled any punches with this increasingly unscrupulous General Manager. “General Manager, please look over the documents,” she said, her pronunciation crisp and formal.
Only then did Lan Mi restrain herself. She obediently took the folder, opened it, and carefully scanned every clause.
“Mi.” Wanqi Aotian entered the room. Noticing that the "ugly assistant’s" seat had been moved to the sofa set originally belonging to the General Manager, she frowned slightly in confusion. It was only after walking further into the office that she realized they were working together.
Lan Mi and Que Tang looked at her simultaneously.
Que Tang immediately lowered her head. Lan Mi felt a surge of displeasure but didn't let it show. She simply asked coldly, “What are you doing here?”
Wanqi Aotian was instantly offended. Usually, she was the one who treated others coldly; no one treated *her* that way. she glared at Que Tang. “You, ugly girl, get out.”
Hearing this, Que Tang instinctively glanced at Lan Mi. Seeing that the playful smile had vanished from the female lead’s face, she pursed her lips. “General Manager, I’ll take these documents back to the sales department first.” She whispered a quick excuse and turned to leave.
“Wait, Que Tang, stay here.” Lan Mi called out to stop her, then turned to Wanqi Aotian with a displeased scowl. “She is my assistant, and this is my company. In what capacity are you ordering her around?”
“In what capacity?” Wanqi Aotian was so enraged that even her hair wax couldn't hold her style; a few strands fell over her eyes. “You are my woman, and I am your girlfriend. What capacity do you think?” She strode to the desk and grabbed Lan Mi, staring at her fiercely.
“Wanqi Aotian, let go.” Lan Mi looked at her coldly. “Don’t pull this stunt every time you get angry. it only makes you look immature.”
“I’m immature?” Wanqi Aotian tilted her head, looking at her. “If I were immature, would you have screamed so—”
Lan Mi immediately slapped her across the face. Wanqi Aotian clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Shut up. Wanqi Aotian, I told you last time that I won’t tolerate your cheating anymore. Did you think I didn't know about your nights out at the clubs? If you had stayed quiet, I might have let it go, but to come to my company and act so outrageously... Don't think that by insulting me like this, I will endure it again.”
Furious, Wanqi Aotian raised her hand to strike back, but Que Tang appeared behind her out of nowhere and caught her arm. “Young Master Wanqi, please don’t.”
“Let go!” Seeing it was the "ugly assistant," Wanqi Aotian’s rage intensified. With a violent shove, she threw Que Tang against the wall.
Not expecting her to be so utterly lacking in grace, Que Tang struck the cabinet by the wall without any defense. She doubled over in pain.
*What a garbage mission...* Que Tang, whose eyes were tearing up from the pain, didn't forget to complain internally.
“Que Tang!” Seeing Que Tang injured while trying to protect her, Lan Mi could no longer suppress her fury. She picked up the phone and pressed the extension for the security room. “Come up here immediately.” After hanging up, she looked coldly at Wanqi Aotian. “Are you going to walk out yourself, or should I have the guards throw you out?”
“You dare?” Wanqi Aotian glared menacingly. “Don’t forget, you’re still my woman.”
“Not anymore. I’m telling you, starting today—no, starting this very second—we have no relationship whatsoever.”
“Lan Mi!” Wanqi Aotian tried to step forward to grab her again.
“General Manager.” The guards arrived, only to see Que Tang unable to stand straight from the pain, and Lan Mi in a heated confrontation with Wanqi Aotian.
“You two, take her out. And from now on, unless she has prior permission, she is not allowed to step foot on company property.” Lan Mi pointed at Wanqi Aotian, showing no mercy.
The guards immediately moved to grab Wanqi Aotian, but she shook them off forcefully. “I’ll walk myself.” She looked at Lan Mi. “Fine. Very well. Just don’t come begging me to take you back.” With a flick of her hand—which caused her wax-defying hairstyle to wobble—she turned and walked out of the office.
The guards looked at each other, then quickly followed her out.
“Que Tang, are you okay?” Once everyone was gone, Lan Mi rushed over to support her.
“I’m fine... it’s probably just a bruise...” Que Tang felt waves of throbbing pain in her back, thinking she’d need to find a traditional bonesetter today.
“A bruise...” Hearing this, Lan Mi immediately moved to take off Que Tang’s blazer.
“Wait, wait, wait! General Manager, what are you doing?!” Que Tang was so startled by the movement that she forgot the pain for a moment.
“I need to see how bad the injury is. If it’s serious, I’m taking you to the hospital immediately.”
“No, no, no, I’m really fine!” Que Tang stopped her at once. “It’s really just a bruise. I’ll just find a Chinese doctor for a massage after work. Besides, General Manager, your meeting for the contract is coming up. There’s really no need to delay things for something this small.”
“...I understand.” Lan Mi helped her into the General Manager’s private lounge.
“Wait, General Manager, what do you understand?” Being led into the room, Que Tang had a sudden, ominous sixth sense that things were about to go south.
“You rest here. I’m going to the meeting.” After helping her lie face-down on the bed, Lan Mi said nothing more, closed the door, and left.
Que Tang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that while the female lead was becoming increasingly unprofessional, she at least still cared about work. However, before she could relax for long, Lan Mi suddenly walked back in holding a bottle of medicinal oil.
“G-General Manager, why are you back? Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?”
“I’ve handed it over to the project lead. It’s just a preliminary talk; the actual signing will take some time to negotiate. I’ll step in if things reach a stalemate.” She unbuttoned her cuffs and rolled up her sleeves. Then, she kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and knelt over Que Tang’s body, careful not to put her full weight on her. “No need for a Chinese doctor. I’ll rub it out for you. When my father was hospitalized long-term for heart disease years ago, I specifically learned massage techniques to prevent muscle atrophy from being bedridden.”
“No, it’s really not necessary, General Manager. I’ll just go to a doctor. I’ll go ask for leave right now.” Que Tang was terrified.
“Xiao Tang...” Lan Mi pressed down on her shoulders and lowered her gaze. “What is there to be polite about between us? Moreover... you were injured because of me. Now that I’ve had a showdown with Wanqi Aotian, I have nothing left to fear. Although the company’s books currently show a deficit of over ten million, it’s not impossible to gloss over. However, if the fact that the company has been hollowed out is exposed before the funds are replenished, I’m afraid investors will panic and sell off their stocks, giving Wanqi Aotian an opportunity to strike.”
While Que Tang was listening intently, Lan Mi took out a pair of scissors and snipped open her shirt. Sure enough, several bruises marred her originally fair back. Lan Mi couldn't help but frown, her eyes downcast as she thought of something. She then opened the medicinal oil, poured some into her palm, spread it across the back, and gave it a heavy knead.
“Hiss—!” Que Tang, who had been deep in thought, suddenly had her features contorted in pain. “Lan Mi!” She finally realized the female lead had said all that just to distract her. And... she looked at the scissors placed before her eyes. She actually used scissors to cut her shirt! How was she supposed to go home after work?!
“It’ll feel better once I rub it in.” Ignoring her protests, Lan Mi firmly continued her movements.
“Ugh...” Que Tang bit down on the bedsheet in pain.
Fifteen minutes later, Lan Mi finally stopped. Que Tang lay paralyzed on the bed, drenched in sweat from the pain. *The female lead definitely wants me dead...*
Lan Mi lay down on her side, meeting Que Tang’s gaze. Her left hand gently took Que Tang’s left hand, while her right hand used a tissue to carefully wipe the sweat from her brow. “Que Tang, I really only have you now,” she said, her voice airy and calm.
Que Tang pondered what kind of expression and lines she should use to respond, but the female lead spoke again.
“But, I don’t want to watch this company be ruined in my hands.” Lan Mi’s expression turned solemn. “Que Tang... are you... willing to help me?”
Que Tang’s spirit jolted. Here was the key point. They had finally reached the middle of the plot; the female lead was beginning her revenge. As expected, Lan Mi’s showdown with Wanqi Aotian in front of her was just to gain her trust and prove her "love."
“General Manager... I’m just an assistant. How can I help you...” Que Tang looked away dejectedly. “I don’t have a powerful background like Young Master Wanqi.”
“Tang...” Lan Mi leaned in and kissed her deeply, only letting go when Que Tang was breathless. “What does Wanqi Aotian have that can compare to you, other than money?” She reached out to stroke her cheek. “And this is something only you can help me with.”
Que Tang buried her face shyly against her neck. “As long as I can help you, I’m willing to do anything.”
Hearing the promise she wanted, Lan Mi stroked the back of Que Tang’s head, her voice tender yet laced with a feigned guilt. “I need you to distract Wanqi Aotian. She has always been interested in you. I believe that as long as you appear in her line of sight, she will take the bait. Once she completely trusts you, I need you to make her believe that our company is on the verge of collapse.” Her face was filled with a darkness that completely contradicted her tone.
Que Tang remained silent for a moment before nodding. “I understand. I will help you.”
***
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Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 43 | The Bitter Showdown | Novela.app | Novela.app
