The Tug-of-War for the White Lotus

Outwardly, she feigned utter fluster, her small hands clutching tightly to Shen Lanzhi’s nightgown, projecting the image of a frail, innocent white lotus, as if pleading, ‘Oh, I’m so scared, please don’t argue because of me.’

“Sister Lanzhi… CEO Gu… please don’t fight… it’s all my fault…”

She even squeezed out a couple of lines, her voice thick with sobs, her acting so superb, she felt she deserved an Oscar herself.

Yet, internally, she was screaming:

‘Fight! Fight! Just fight already!’

‘Yes! That’s it! Crazy Gu, glare at her! Green Tea Shen, retort to her!’

‘Preferably, pull hair! Rip clothes! Arguing like this won’t kill anyone!’

Xiang Qing’s inner thoughts were a wild clamor, revealing her to be a true chaos-monger, delighting in disorder.

What was an amusement park compared to this?

Now this live-action ‘War of Two Women’—that was truly exhilarating!

Just as Xiang Qing’s mind was furiously scrolling through these internal comments, the intensity of the confrontation escalated.

“Shen Lanzhi, I’m warning you, don’t meddle!” Gu Wei was struggling to keep her temper in check.

“Gu Wei, let me make myself clear as well. As long as I’m here, you won’t bully Xiao Qing!” Shen Lanzhi refused to yield an inch.

Their distance narrowed, their eye contact escalating to the level of nuclear warfare.

Xiang Qing saw that the perfect moment had arrived!

She immediately squeezed out from behind Shen Lanzhi, spread her arms wide, and stood between the two women, her face contorted into an expression of desperate anxiety, on the verge of tears.

“No! Don’t fight anymore!”

Her voice trembled, filled with helplessness and fear.

Yet, inside, she was roaring with laughter.

‘Hahahaha! Isn’t my spot the ultimate VIP spectator seat?’

‘Quick! Make a move! I can’t wait any longer!’

‘CEO Gu! Go for it! Show her the power of cold, hard cash! Sister Lanzhi! Put her in her place! Don’t let her be so arrogant!’

Xiang Qing, while internally fanning the flames, weakly attempted to push the two women apart.

“For me… it’s not worth it…”

Her demeanor, in the eyes of Gu Wei and Shen Lanzhi, portrayed her as kind, helpless, and heartbroken for their sake.

Their protective and possessive instincts instantly surged to their peak!

Gu Wei, seeing Xiang Qing’s distressed expression, felt a pang of heartache, but her anger towards Shen Lanzhi intensified.

‘If not for this woman, why would Xiao Qing be in such a predicament now!’

Shen Lanzhi, seeing Xiang Qing on the verge of tears, also felt a pang of heartache, and her disgust for Gu Wei deepened.

‘If not for this madwoman, why would Xiao Qing suffer such injustice!’

“Xiang Qing, step aside! Today, I absolutely must make things clear with her!” Gu Wei reached out, intending to pull Xiang Qing behind her.

“Xiao Qing, come here! Don’t be afraid, I’m here!” Shen Lanzhi also reached out to grasp Xiang Qing’s other hand.

Thus, the two who had been in a standoff moments ago now found themselves in a tug-of-war.

And the prize was Xiang Qing, caught between them, an arm clutched by each, unable to move.

“Hiss—”

Xiang Qing gasped sharply in pain.

‘My arms! My arms! They’re going to break, hey!’

She felt like the victim of an ancient torture, ‘dismemberment by five horses,’ except now it was ‘dismemberment by two women.’

‘These two sisters are really going all out!’

Xiang Qing’s face held a look of utter fragility, tears welling in her eyes, making her appear utterly pathetic.

“CEO Gu… Sister Lanzhi… please… don’t… don’t pull… it hurts…”

‘Help! I just wanted to watch a live-action Tiny Times drama, not personally act out Gu Li and Nan Xiang fighting over hair!’

‘Pull harder! Just tear me in half, one half for each of you, fair and square, then no one has to fight anymore!’

Gu Wei and Shen Lanzhi were completely caught up in the moment, neither willing to release their grip first.

“Shen Lanzhi! You let go of her!” Gu Wei gritted her teeth.

“Gu Wei, you’re the one who should let go!” Shen Lanzhi stood her ground.

Seeing her arms on the verge of detaching themselves, Xiang Qing knew she couldn’t keep up the act any longer.

‘If I continue, I’ll be in the hospital for bone setting tomorrow!’

“Wah—”

An earth-shattering wail instantly echoed throughout the opulent mansion.

Xiang Qing’s tears gushed forth like an endless tap.

She said nothing, simply stood there, screaming at the top of her lungs, crying with such heart-wrenching anguish that it would move any listener to sorrow.

This sudden outburst left both Gu Wei and Shen Lanzhi utterly dumbfounded.

Their hands, still clutching Xiang Qing’s arms, instinctively loosened their grip.

They looked at Xiang Qing, who stood between them, sobbing uncontrollably, her shoulders heaving, both at a loss, not knowing what to do.

“You… why are you crying?” Gu Wei’s brows furrowed.

“Xiao Qing, don’t cry, don’t cry. Did we hurt you?” Shen Lanzhi quickly moved closer, gently patting Xiang Qing’s back, her eyes filled with concern.

Xiang Qing, still whimpering, accused them in a muffled, tear-choked voice.

“Wuwuwu… you… you’re both bullying me…”

“Please don’t fight over me anymore… wuwu… it’s all my fault…”

Her frail, helpless white lotus act possessed nuclear-level destructive power.

Gu Wei looked at her swollen red eyes and nose, and her anger was instantly doused by ninety percent.

The remaining ten percent morphed into irritation and a faint flicker of guilt.

She simply couldn’t bear to see Xiang Qing cry.

“Alright, alright! Stop crying!” Gu Wei’s tone was sharp, but her actions were honest.

She pulled out her phone and tapped her fingers rapidly.

“Ding-dong!”

Xiang Qing’s phone chimed.

With tear-filled eyes, she pulled out her phone and looked.

[Gu Wei transferred 52,000 yuan to you.]

[Comment: Shut up! You’re annoying me to death!]

Xiang Qing’s sobs instantly stalled, as if a pause button had been pressed.

She blinked her tear-laden eyes, then glanced again at the numbers on her phone screen.

‘Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands…’

‘Fifty-two thousand!’

‘Oh my god! A patron truly lives up to the name! Even their way of appeasing people is so unpretentious, yet undeniably effective!’

Xiang Qing’s internal storm instantly cleared to sunshine.

‘As expected of Crazy Gu, this power of money is truly the GOAT!’

However, her professional acting prowess prevented her from bursting into laughter on the spot.

She forcibly suppressed the upward curve of her lips and continued to sniffle, though her voice was now much softer.

“Thank you, CEO Gu… wuwu… but I’m not doing it for the money… I just… just feel upset…”

Beside her, Shen Lanzhi’s eyes darkened as she witnessed the scene.

She gently took out a tissue and wiped away Xiang Qing’s tear marks.

“Xiao Qing, don’t be afraid. Money can’t solve all problems; only genuine sincerity can.”

As she spoke, she pointedly glanced at Gu Wei.

“Unlike some people, who only know how to throw money around, how vulgar.”

“Who are you calling vulgar?” Gu Wei’s recently suppressed anger flared up again. “It’s better than some people who only know how to talk, isn’t it? All talk and no action is just a sham!”

Seeing the conflict about to reignite, Xiang Qing quickly tucked her phone back into her pocket.

‘The money’s already in hand, I can’t let them fight again!’

‘What if CEO Gu gets upset and asks for the money back!’

“Stop fighting!” Xiang Qing mustered her courage, shouting in a voice still laced with sobs.

She looked at one, then the other, finally casting a pleading gaze at Shen Lanzhi.

“Sister Lanzhi… I… I won’t be going back tonight.”

“What?” Shen Lanzhi was stunned.

Xiang Qing lowered her head, explaining softly: “CEO Gu… she’s in a bad mood, and as her nanny, I should stay to take care of her.”

Her words were spoken with such thoughtful consideration.

In reality, Xiang Qing was thinking:

‘Are you kidding me! I’ve already accepted fifty-two thousand, I absolutely have to stay tonight! Customer experience must be maximized! Besides, what if I cry again tonight, can I get another fifty-two thousand? This immense fortune, I must seize it!’

Upon hearing Xiang Qing’s words, a triumphant smile instantly appeared on Gu Wei’s face, and she jerked her chin up defiantly at Shen Lanzhi.

‘See? She still cares about me.’

Shen Lanzhi’s expression was far from pleased.

She gently took Xiang Qing’s hand: “Xiao Qing, you don’t have to put yourself through this. Does a big boss like her really need your care? I’ll take you home.”

“No!” Gu Wei retorted childishly, pulling Xiang Qing abruptly behind her. “She must sleep here tonight! She’s not allowed to go anywhere!”

“Gu Wei, don’t go too far!”

“What if I do?”

The two women were once again at daggers drawn.

Xiang Qing, caught in the middle, felt utterly overwhelmed.