Chapter 192: Literal Meaning
For a moment, Luo Xiaoling didn’t know what to say.
Like… how can someone talk about schemes so openly and righteously?
Su He leisurely plopped herself onto the sofa. Seeing a tray of apples, she grabbed one and began crunching away.
After quite a while, Luo Xiaoling gritted her teeth and said, “Su He, when did you become so shameless? You weren’t like this before!”
Su He swallowed the apple in her mouth and said slowly, “Can’t survive if you care too much about face!
You have no idea how poor my family was. My grandma could scold me for three days and nights over a single fried egg!
Of course I wanted to live like you, a pampered young lady, but life didn’t allow it!
And on top of that, Shen Ruyi constantly schemed against me, even tried to use men to trap me.
I just can’t figure it out—did she think I’d never seen a man before? That I’d fall for the first one she threw at me? Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t come up with such a stupid plan, right?!”
To be honest, Luo Xiaoling also thought Shen Ruyi’s “honey trap” tactic wasn’t that clever. It would’ve been fine if she used it once, but she did it twice.
But still, she didn’t dare say anything in front of Shen Ruyi.
Su He kept going, “Xiaoling, following someone with no brains like that doesn’t look good for your future. How about you follow me instead?”
Luo Xiaoling: “…”
Where do you get that kind of ego?!
Sure, Shen Ruyi had power and money—what do you have?
Su He slowly pulled out her little shoulder bag and began laying out ID badges on the coffee table… one after another.
Luo Xiaoling: “…”
She already knew from Shen Ruyi that Su He had become the secretary to the director of the An County Machinery Plant, but she never imagined Su He had this many work IDs.
She tried to resist but couldn’t—she began flipping through them.
Su He tossed the apple core into the trash can, poured herself a glass of water, and kept chatting away, “Xiaoling, I’ve only been back in the countryside for less than half a year. I’ve only really been grinding for a little over two months, and already I’ve gotten this many jobs.
You’ve probably heard about how I brought in a foreign trade order for An County’s textile mill, right?
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. I also secured nearly $300,000 USD in orders for the S City Food Factory and the S City No.1 Textile Factory.
Now, I’m not bragging—I just want to tell you that instead of following that brainless Shen Ruyi, why not follow me?
I may not have power or influence yet, but one day I’ll surpass her for sure.”
Luo Xiaoling put down the IDs and sneered, “No matter how hard you work, you’re still just a commoner. One flick of the finger from the Shen family’s capital branch, and you’re dead meat.”
Su He smiled.
“Xiaoling, you’ve got something wrong—right now it’s only Shen Ruyi targeting me. Forget about the Shen family’s capital branch, even her parents wouldn’t bother with me.”
Luo Xiaoling curled her lips. “Wow, you’re dumb. If it wasn’t for Auntie Song’s help, how could Shen Ruyi mobilize so many people?!”
Su He firmly said, “No way! My mom—I mean, Auntie Song—wouldn’t do that to me!”
Luo Xiaoling nearly scoffed herself off the couch. “You really think you’re something special, huh? Shen Ruyi is Auntie Song’s biological daughter—who are you?!
Auntie Song is way better to Ruyi than to you!
She practically caters to Ruyi’s every whim. If Ruyi says jump, she jumps.”
Su He’s eyes flickered—this was exactly what she was fishing for. And Luo Xiaoling, her “good” bestie, really had no filter when she talked!
So all those moves really were a joint effort between Song Xian and Shen Ruyi.
But why was Song Xian so obedient to Shen Ruyi? Just guilt?
Su He put on a heartbroken expression and said weakly, “Xiaoling, I don’t get it. It’s not my fault the babies got switched—why would Auntie Song want to destroy me completely? Doesn’t she have even a sliver of affection left from raising me?”
Luo Xiaoling said with schadenfreude, “Who knows? Maybe you’re just naturally annoying!”
Su He sighed, “Maybe… But hey, even ants want to survive. I’m definitely not going to let them trample me. Xiaoling, I’ll say it again—nothing good will come from staying by Shen Ruyi’s side. Join me instead!”
Luo Xiaoling rolled her eyes. “Keep dreaming!”
Su He grinned.
“Xiaoling, Shen Ruyi’s a pretty suspicious person, right? What do you think she’ll do if she finds out you met me in private?”
Luo Xiaoling’s face changed. “What are you trying to say?”
Su He curled her lips. “Exactly what it sounds like.
If you don’t act as my informant, I’ll tell Shen Ruyi that you leaked all her plans to me in advance, which is how I managed to dodge every trap. What do you think she’d do to you?”
Luo Xiaoling nearly burst into tears from rage.
“Su He, you—you’re despicable!”
Su He flashed a toothy grin. “And shameless too!”
Luo Xiaoling: “…”
At this moment, she regretted one thing more than anything else—opening that door.
She’d invited a wolf into her home!
Shen Ruyi was incredibly suspicious. Even if she told her the truth voluntarily, she’d still be suspected.
Just thinking about all the things Shen Ruyi had done made Luo Xiaoling shiver.
Su He suddenly became serious. “Xiaoling, you don’t have any other choice. You have to follow my lead.
I’m not trying to scare you, but even if I hadn’t come here today, and you helped Shen Ruyi destroy me, do you really think she’d be good to you?
You should understand the concept of ‘killing the donkey once the grinding is done’ or ‘eliminating witnesses.’ The only way you stay safe is if I keep thriving…”
Then she launched into historical case studies—from Liu Bang to Zhu Yuanzhang, from beheading loyal generals to wiping out entire clans.
In the middle of summer, Su He had Luo Xiaoling shivering like it was winter.
“Xiaoling, don’t worry. I won’t make things hard for you. Just give me a quick heads-up now and then—I’ll be grateful.
When you need it, I’ll even leak you a bit of info so you can go earn credit from Shen Ruyi.
We’ll both benefit, and no one loses out.
Plus, think about it—Shen Ruyi treats you like a maid, but in reality, you’d be the one playing her like a monkey. Isn’t that satisfying?”
Luo Xiaoling bit her lip and didn’t reply.
Su He yawned and stretched. “Got up a little early today. I’m gonna go nap in your room.”
Luo Xiaoling: “…Su He, do you even have any shame left?!”
“Nope.”
Luo Xiaoling’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. “Fine! I’ll agree! But unless it’s really important, I’m not risking contacting you. Besides, Shen Ruyi doesn’t tell me everything, so don’t get your hopes up.”
Su He nodded. “Sure. We’re tied to the same rope now—if I go down, I’m dragging you down with me.”
Luo Xiaoling’s head was buzzing with fury.
She knew she wasn’t a good person—but next to Su He, she felt like a saint!
