Chapter 18: I Slept with Him

Zhao Baitong hadn’t had such a restful sleep in a long time.

The next morning, when she went downstairs, Aunt Jiang had already prepared breakfast.

Zhao Baitong glanced around and then looked upstairs, asking Aunt Jiang, “Is Brother Fang still asleep?”

“The eldest young master has already left. He said you were still sleeping and didn’t want to disturb you. He left you a note on the coffee table.”

Zhao Baitong picked up the note from the coffee table. The handwriting was forceful and clear: “On a business trip for a few days, don’t miss me.”

Why would he bother informing her about a business trip? Did Meng Tang know?

Zhao Baitong crumpled the note into a ball, unsure where to toss it. Aunt Jiang called her, “Miss Zhao, breakfast is ready. Eat it while it’s warm.”

Startled, Zhao Baitong shivered slightly and quickly replied, “Got it, Aunt Jiang.”

...

In the afternoon, there was a surgery at the veterinary hospital.

Zhao Baitong was the lead surgeon, removing a tumor from a dog’s stomach. From anesthesia to the end of the operation, it took over three hours.

She emerged from the operating room, her clothes soaked with sweat. After removing her mask, she went to the front desk to get some water.

The receptionist called out to her, “Dr. Zhao, there’s a courier here for you.”

Zhao Baitong took the envelope and thanked the receptionist.

Back in her office, she opened the envelope. The golden shimmering invitation to the Fang family banquet immediately caught her eye.

As one of the beneficiaries once chosen and sponsored by the Fang family, she received an invitation to their family banquet every three years. Thanks to the Fang family’s early support, she had access to superior educational resources. While she was grateful, she also knew she had become a symbol for the Fang family to showcase their charitable image.

Families like the Fangs, with their immense wealth, needed to engage in charity and donations to cultivate their family reputation.

This also meant that the deeper her image was tied to being a sponsored child of the Fang family, the more impossible it was for her to have anything to do with Fang Zhixu.

Social status wouldn’t allow it, public opinion wouldn’t allow it, and the Fang family certainly wouldn’t!

After work, Li Xueya wrapped her arms around Zhao Baitong from behind. “Let’s go, I’m treating you to a big dinner tonight!”

Zhao Baitong turned her head. “Something good happen today?”

“No. You’ve lost weight. That dog of a man is gone, and so be it. Your body is your own. Plus, after you were in the hospital recently, we need some good food to nourish you.”

Li Xueya parked her twenty-thousand-yuan sedan in front of a Jiangnan-style restaurant that was running a promotion. A sign at the door read: “Couples 50% off!”

Discounts were Li Xueya’s weakness. She said to Zhao Baitong, “We’re really lucky today, the place’s dishes are on sale.”

Zhao Baitong replied, “But we’re not a couple.”

“Why are you always so honest?” Li Xueya hugged her tighter. “We say we are—that’s enough. People are so open-minded these days; even same-sex couples can be interviewed on the street and openly admit it. What’s wrong with us pretending?”

Zhao Baitong rubbed her forehead. “Pretending, too?”

“If that doesn’t work, we’ll just kiss in public.”

Zhao Baitong politely declined. “That, I really can’t do.”

The restaurant’s promotion wasn’t demanding, but Li Xueya felt a bit self-conscious, worried no one would believe them. She boldly wrapped her arm around Zhao Baitong and tilted her chin toward the doorman. “You see us, right? We’re here because of your promotion. Cut us some slack!”

The Jiangnan dishes were exquisite, and the half-price set was more than enough for two girls. Li Xueya ordered half a bottle of wine kept there. She didn’t drink much, but after two glasses, she began to chatter endlessly.

In truth, Li Xueya had been under a lot of pressure this past year. After her father was imprisoned, she spent a lot on legal fees running around for his case. The key evidence against Red Orange Corporation had come from her ex-boyfriend.

Their relationship had fallen apart after her father’s arrest. After breaking up, her ex not only showed no guilt but claimed Li Xueya had wasted years of his youth, berating her family’s morals and causing him to be the subject of gossip.

If Li Xueya weren’t so carefree, all of these piled-up troubles would have been enough to break her.

“How’s your father’s case progressing?” Zhao Baitong ladled some soup and offered it to Li Xueya.

“The materials for appeal are almost ready. The lawyer says there’s a fifty percent chance. The good news is, even if my dad is convicted, the sentence should be lighter than the first trial. The bad news is, my dad’s lifelong biotech research is being seized by Red Orange. Cui Xu is now holding my dad’s technology, looking for buyers. If he can get a good price, he’ll be Red Orange’s big hero.”

Cui Xu was Li Xueya’s ex-boyfriend who acted as if nothing fazed him.

Zhao Baitong comforted her, “It’s good that there’s some progress. We’ll figure out the rest gradually.”

Speaking of the case, Zhao Baitong suddenly recalled something. “Xueya, you said yesterday the police information came from Lawyer Ji. Since he’s been handling your father’s case, why would he share such confidential details with you?”

Zhao Baitong knew lawyers were usually very strict, especially with matters involving the Fang family—most people would stay silent.

Li Xueya suddenly hesitated. “Baitong, do you know why Lawyer Ji took my dad’s case in the first place?”

Zhao Baitong looked at her intently. “Isn’t it because you paid him a lot?”

Li Xueya’s expression shifted uncomfortably. “When I was six, my mom divorced my dad and remarried. She married the second uncle of Lawyer Ji’s distant relative. In terms of relationship, my mom is Lawyer Ji’s aunt by marriage.”

Zhao Baitong began to understand. “So it’s because of family ties.”

Li Xueya grew even more uneasy, lowering her gaze. “But he told me those things—not because we’re related.”

Zhao Baitong noticed her restlessness and asked with concern, “Xueya, what is it really about?”

Li Xueya traced the rim of her wine glass and downed it. “I… I slept with Lawyer Ji.”

Zhao Baitong was stunned into silence for half a minute. Li Xueya had been single since breaking up with Cui Xu, and this had happened quite suddenly.

Li Xueya explained, “That day I went to give the shepherd dog at Lawyer Ji’s house a shot. He’d had some wine, and on the sofa, he blindfolded me with his tie. I could tell he was quite experienced in that area.”

Zhao Baitong warned, “Keep your voice down.”

Li Xueya lowered her voice. “He’s much more carefree than me. Afterward, he even drove me home and bought me ointment for the area. Later, he called me, but I didn’t dare answer. I don’t know how to face him.”

Zhao Baitong said, “He’s a lawyer; he knows the consequences well. Maybe he thinks you like him, or he believes he can use your dad’s case to control you. Xueya, do you like him?”

Li Xueya stammered, “I—I don’t know. My dad’s case is in his hands, and the second trial is next month. Whether I like him or not isn’t the most important thing. As long as he can help my dad.”

“Baitong, please don’t tell anyone about this. Besides the fact that Lawyer Ji is my dad’s attorney, considering the Ji family connections, if we met, I’d have to call him ‘big brother’.”

Big brother... Zhao Baitong thought of Fang Zhixu and the same differences in social status and the forbidden taboos of society.

Her eyes darkened briefly before she nodded. “Don’t worry, Xueya. I’m the tightest-lipped person you’ll ever meet.”