THE CEO's LOVE 83 DON'T PLAY THIS GAME!

Chu Feng dropped his kettlebells and frowned. He hated the fact he had to deal with arrogant ladies from rich family.

Even Qiangshen raised his head to see what was going on.

"Hi..."

"Yeah... We were meant to have dinner tonight. Hope you didn't forget?" Qingnuan interrupted. 

"By the way what are you doing here?" Cui Yao asked.

"I think you are mistaken but I'm not..." Yuxi paused and examined the two ladies. "Where?" The question took Chu Feng by surprise. It also made Qiangshen frown.

What does she think she's doing? Qiangshen thought.

"Let me have your number so I will call you later in the day to tell you where to meet us at."

"No let me have yours instead." Yuxi said and stretched out her hand to give her cellphone to Qingnuan but another hand grabbed it.

Qiangshen was looking at the phone and said. "You are forgetting something," he said and looked up at Yuxi. "You can no longer act as you wish... You shouldn't pass your cellphone to just anyone."

Just anyone? Qingnuan and Cui Yao frowned.

"Excuse me," Qiangshen said and grabbed Yuxi's hand then strode out.

Chu Feng watched them leave and felt like hitting someone. He knew what it took him to convince Qiangshen to come do some workouts and now this two ladies had just sent him out without doing much. He ran his hand through his hair and cursed f*ck.

Outside, Yuxi forced her hand out of Qiangshen's grasp and stopped walking.

He turned and with a frown on his face he asked, "What did you think you were doing back there? I'm very sure you don't know those ladies. So why were you willing to take thier number and ready to hang out with them?"

"I know them, they are my friends..."

"Your friends? You are Bai Yuxi! Not Bai Xueyan!" Qiangshen interrupted.

Yuxi showed a look of surprise but then concealed it immediately. "Who is Bai Xueyan?"

"I know you are not as dumb as you look like. Don't play this game! The end result will be terrifying!" Qiangshen said and strode towards the car. The driver had gone to bring the car the instant he saw them.

Yuxi stood there in the sun as a heat dropped from her scalp.

"Miss are you getting in?" The driver yelled from the top of his voice.

Yuxi whom seemed to be lost for a while came back to her senses and strode towards the car. She got in and the driver sped away.

Chu Feng came out and followed them in a cab.

*****

It was past six as Qingnuan and Cui Yao waited patiently for Xueyan to show up.

"That girl is two faced. How can she work at the hotel and the same time work for Qiangshen?" Cui Yao questioned.

Qingnuan said nothing and only looked towards the restaurant door. They had booked a private room but forced to stay out and wait on Xueyan.

"She's taking so much time to arrive, like she's some VIP. Hmph. What does she think of herself? She's way too gutsy. What does she think of us? We are not jobless..." Cui Yao harped.

"She will be here soon, I believe." Qingnuan said to calm Cui Yao a bit.

Cui Yao sighed heavily. "I really hope so. She should be here before Shiya arrives."

If not their plans would be ruined.

*****

"Are you going out?" Xueyan asked after watching Yuxi trying to select a dress for over fifteen minutes.

"Yes, what do you think I should wear?" Yuxi answered and returned a question.

Xueyan thought for a while, "I think you should wear something comfortable enough for you."

"Then something like this," Yuxi picked up a velvet coloured knee dress, with a red rose flower on its left breast.

"This is beautiful! I bet you'd look like a descending warrior angel." Xueyan complimented.

Yuxi beamed. "Oh really? I doubt that."

And both laughed out.

Thirty minutes later, Yuxi was ready with a light makeup on her face. 

"I'm leaving now," Yuxi bade goodbye to Xueyan.

"Oh my. Why do you look so gorgeous? Don't tell me you are going to work dressed this way?" Mrs Bai questioned when she saw Yuxi headed towards the door.

"No no. It's not to the office..."

"Then where?" Mr Bai interrupted as he came out from the bedroom.

"There's a gathering... I'm going to a social event." Yuxi lied.

Mr Bai darted a look at his wife and watched the woman's throat bob.  "Is that included in the contract? You have to go with him on social gatherings?" The man's facial expression changed. "I have to watch my child act as someone's girlfriend... I bet he has a betrothed outside the country and will be using my child for a while and then after she's dumped and he has to marry his betrothed. We are living in a free apartment with our daughter as a collateral. Why have I become so useless that I can't give my family the happiness they deserve..." He trailed off. "I'm so useless. My first child works in a hotel and the second graduated with a degree in technology but working as a hired girlfriend..." The man prattled on.

Xueyan watched from the door of the bedroom, Yuxi stood at the exit door with a stoic expression while Mrs Bai had a doleful expression.

Yuxi's left hand balled into a fist as the right hand clutched more tightly around her cellphone.

"Father," Yuxi started. "You shouldn't be worried. I can fight my way through life. Worry less and instead focus more on being happy with the things I acquire. Believe me there will be more goodies, so be happy!" After saying her piece, she turned and walked out the door and into the elevator. Inside the elevator with another occupant, Yuxi sniffed in trying hard to control the tears threatening to drop.

Of course. She had to remain the strongest! 

The elevator beeped and Yuxi stepped out. She strode to the front looked up at their apartment and her lips curved a bit. She turned around entered a waiting cab, told him her destination and the man drove out of the building.

Once at her destination, she retouched her makeup and stepped down.

Her angelic expression disappeared and turned to that of a warrior with murder intent. She stepped through the doors and went straight to the two young ladies that seemed to be deep in discussion.

"Hi," Yuxi said with an ice filled tone.

"Ah!" Cui Yao  cried out. The tone had sent a chill down her spine. She turned and realized it was Xueyan with a deep frown on her face she opened her mouth to say something but Qingnuan immediately pinched her. She shot daggers at Yuxi as she wasn't able to do anything.

"Hope I'm not too late," Yuxi said with a little smile hung on face.

"No no. You're not." Qingnuan answered and examined Yuxi. "Come, this way." She said to Yuxi.

Qingnuan dragged Cui Yao along as she was still fuming and refused to move.

Inside their reserved room.

Qingnuan sent a message to Shiya.

A reply came. Qingnuan sighed and put her phone back into her bag.

Yuxi picked the menu on the table and flipped through it. With an arched eyebrow she asked. "Are we waiting for anyone?"

"Yes. Actually someone else is joining us." Qingnuan answered as she was still the sane one. "But you can make your order."

"Xueyan, where have you been? You disappeared like something calamitous happened... Tell me, where have you been?" Cui Yao besought.

Qingnuan pinched Cui Yao like before and Cui Yao's reaction caused Qingnuan to be still. "Stop! I can ask her that! We need to know how she faired all these years... So stop trying to stop me because I want to know!" Cui Yao almost screamed.

Yuxi turned a glass and poured herself water and took little sips. As if satisfied after four sips she dropped the glass without making a single noise. "Good!" Her reply came.

"Any details on what you been on?" Cui Yao probed.

"Not really. It was hard surviving. Things didn't go as planned but I'm still here and doing okay, though."

"Is that why you decided to work for little young master Qiangshen? You want to use him for little benefits..."

"Cui Yao," Qingnuan called to stop her from continuing.

"It's unlike you to stoop so low. Don't you think what you are doing right now is wrong?" Cui Yao continued. "It would be better if you continue working in the hotel instead and stop your plans on whatever you are dreaming about the young master... It will do you much good!"

"Cui Yao stop it!" Qingnuan interposed.

"Qingnuan, you stop it!" Cui Yao shot back.

Yuxi watched the two and a giggle escaped her throat. The two turned to see the supposed laughing Xueyan sipping her water like she had no care in the world.

"Its okay, Nuannuan." Yuxi said with Qingnuan's pet name. "I've been good!" Yuxi turned to Cui Yao. "What do you think I'm planning by being close to young master Qiangshen?"

Cui Yao cackled. "How do you expect me to know that?" 

"Oh!" Yuxi smiled. "Truth is that I have always dreamed of a good life, maybe this is the right time to have it." She raised her eyes to look at Cui Yao.

Cui Yao swallowed, "He's a little boy..."

"Little boy you say?" Yuxi laughed. "It doesn't matter."

The smile on Cui Yao's face froze. Qingnuan face turned pale.

Chapter end