Jin Ke’er’s gaze shifted between Su Li and Bai Huizi, convinced that if she just revealed everything from Su Li’s past, their relationship would surely crumble.
Without a powerful backer, Su Li was nothing more than a plaything to be butchered and manipulated at will.
All Jin Ke’er needed to do was casually toss a little something Su Li’s way, and Su Li would return to her side.
This time, she wouldn’t give Su Li any chance to escape.
As for the woman before her—Ms. Bai—Jin Ke’er didn’t think she cared about the thoughts of a mere plaything.
As long as she offered a price that satisfied Ms. Bai, Su Li would just be a disposable stake to her.
After all, from the outside, the position of Director of the Art Museum seemed prestigious and successful.
But to Jin Ke’er, those achievements meant nothing.
Their perspectives were completely different, and so their futures would inevitably diverge.
What was just a trivial stake to her might very well be an opportunity Ms. Bai could never hope to reach in her lifetime.
If Ms. Bai was a smart woman, Jin Ke’er believed she could offer a satisfactory answer when it came to choosing how to proceed.
“Oh? Why should I care about her past?” Bai Huizi looked at Jin Ke’er with a puzzled expression, genuinely confused.
“If I’m perfectly satisfied with the person she is now, does what happened in her past really matter?”
“Or, is Jin Miss someone who likes to sever ties with the past?”
Bai Huizi spoke, her curious gaze sizing up Jin Ke’er, hoping to find something interesting about her.
But Jin Ke’er suddenly fell silent, her eyes instinctively flickering away.
Only when her trembling legs weakened did she realize she’d been standing too long and needed something to lean on.
With unsteady steps, she moved over to a nearby chair and sat down.
She wanted to hide her weak state, but for some reason, seeing Ms. Bai’s expression—like watching a circus clown’s performance—filled her with anger.
She forced herself to endure the condescending gaze of this lowly person.
To focus on the bigger picture.
Yet Jin Ke’er still clenched her fists tightly; patience had never been her strong suit.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so desperate to return to the Domestic Market for treatment.
She was eager to find Su Li and release the pent-up frustration buried deep within her heart.
Bai Huizi’s words had hit a sore spot, angering her slightly.
It was as if they were saying that Jin Ke’er’s decision to cut ties with Su Li to return to her Family was a mistake.
Jin Ke’er exhaled slowly, trying hard to regain her composure.
They stood on different ground, and with Ms. Bai’s shallow insight, how could she understand Jin Ke’er’s plans?
“No, I think Ms. Bai might have misunderstood me.”
“I’m the type to reflect on myself. Every day I review what I’ve done—keeping what was done well, and improving on what wasn’t.”
“I don’t think that’s severing the past; it’s just constant self-improvement.”
The veins bulged on Jin Ke’er’s tightly clenched fists.
If not for wanting to punish Su Li, she would have ended this meaningless meeting long ago.
Had she ever been subjected to such humiliation before?
Every single time, those who wanted to cooperate with her begged for her favor.
Not to mention the current situation—it was impossible for her to say such reckless things.
If they had someone like Su Li, they’d probably want to cut ties immediately and teach her a harsh lesson.
“Oh? Is that so?”
Bai Huizi’s tone was calm, impossible to tell if it was admiration or sarcasm.
“In that case, Ms. Jin must be an exceptional person.”
“Then I’m very curious about what this little girl beside me could have done to make Ms. Jin so obsessed.”
Bai Huizi’s gaze shifted to Su Li, who still showed no expression—no joy, no anxiety.
Although she was the center of their discussion, Su Li seemed completely detached from the meeting.
And indeed, Su Li didn’t care about this conversation.
Both Jin Ke’er and Bai Huizi were merely her trading partners.
If the transaction didn’t fit, she’d just end it.
No matter what choice Bai Huizi made—whether to continue the transaction or end it—Su Li was indifferent.
To continue meant paying the agreed price.
To end it meant Bai Huizi, like Jin Ke’er, held no value to her.
So whatever they said about her was of no concern.
Instead, Su Li sat there in a daze, conserving her energy.
Opportunities to earn money by doing nothing were rare.
She wouldn’t miss a chance to slack off reasonably.
“Su Li…” Jin Ke’er began, then fell silent.
Her eyes fixed on Su Li, who remained expressionless.
Even after the slap, Su Li appeared unfazed.
Jin Ke’er’s heart burned with frustration.
She couldn’t decide how to approach Su Li for the moment.
She never exposed her weaknesses or needs, especially not in front of potential collaborators.
Otherwise, they could easily exploit her.
Now, she realized she might have unknowingly fallen into Ms. Bai’s trap.
It was as if the woman was trying to extract information from her.
“Su Li is nothing but a despicable woman,”
Jin Ke’er said calmly after composing herself.
Though she insulted Su Li, Su Li still showed no reaction.
It was as if the topic of discussion didn’t concern her at all.
An eerie atmosphere settled over the entire Meeting Room.
“In that case, Ms. Jin, please leave. I have no intention of cooperating with someone who insults the people around me.”
Bai Huizi didn’t look at Su Li; she could already guess her expression.
Her tone grew noticeably colder.
Jin Ke’er was surprised by Bai Huizi’s words.
It seemed she had underestimated Su Li’s standing in Bai Huizi’s eyes.
Jin Ke’er glanced at Su Li, who remained expressionless, as if she had her completely figured out.
Anger and unwillingness filled Jin Ke’er’s heart as she turned back to Bai Huizi and said:
“I think I can offer Ms. Bai an irresistible stake!”