The atmosphere in Ji Yanluo's study was thick with tension, the air almost electric as he stared coldly across the polished mahogany desk at his cousin, Ji Chengyu. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing along the walls, mirroring the turmoil brewing inside him. The words Bai Zhiqi had spoken just an hour ago echoed in his mind, haunting him with the weight of her despair.
*"Am I really going to be labeled the bad woman after this Sunday?"*
He couldn't shake the image of her pale face, the vulnerability hidden beneath her strength. She had suffered too long, and he refused to allow her to succumb to a fate that wasn't hers to bear. Bai Zhiqi would reclaim her identity—not as the veiled musician, but as the prodigious pianist she truly was.
"Why did you call me here at the dead of the night?" Chengyu asked, leaning back in his chair with feigned nonchalance, yet the glint in his eyes betrayed his curiosity.
"You know the reason why I called you," Ji Yanluo replied, his voice steady, laced with determination.
"Dear cousin, how am I supposed to know when you won't even talk to me?" Chengyu retorted, a smirk playing on his lips, as if he enjoyed the dance of veiled threats.
"I want the upcoming banquet to be in Bai Zhiqi's favor," Ji Yanluo stated plainly, his gaze unwavering.
"Dear cousin, I am not a magician," Chengyu replied, amusement flickering across his features. "Besides, all I know is that the banquet is thrown by Bai Lanyue to honor her elder sister."
"You know what I mean, Chengyu, and you'll do what I want," Ji Yanluo insisted, his voice low but firm, each word dripping with unyielding resolve.
"I don't do things out of charity," Chengyu said, crossing his arms, the smirk fading as his tone turned serious.
"I know," Ji Yanluo said, steeling himself for the next move. Just then, Han Su walked into the study, file in hand, his expression a mix of purpose and urgency.
"That is what you really needed," Han Su said, dropping the file onto the desk in front of Chengyu. "I know, and here it is. The position you want in the Ji family."
"Really? You'd give me this?" Chengyu asked, surprise flickering in his eyes as he glanced at the file.
"I won't lie to you; there you go," Ji Yanluo said, gesturing toward the document with a steady hand. "But I want results by Saturday."
"Alright, I'll see what I can do," Chengyu replied, his interest visibly piqued as he picked up the file, already flipping through the contents. "But don't think I'll do this out of the goodness of my heart."
Ji Yanluo leaned forward, his expression hardening. "You'll do it because you understand the stakes. Bai Zhiqi deserves this chance, and I won't let her be overshadowed any longer."
Chengyu paused, meeting Ji Yanluo's fierce gaze. "You're playing a dangerous game, cousin. What if this backfires?"
"It won't," Ji Yanluo asserted, his voice low but resolute. "I've already set things in motion. You just need to ensure the banquet highlights her talent, not just Lanyue's façade."
"Fine," Chengyu said, his tone begrudgingly respectful. "But remember, the consequences are yours to bear."
With that, Chengyu turned and left the study, the door clicking shut behind him. Han Su remained, watching Ji Yanluo with an unreadable expression.
"Are you sure about this, President Ji?" Han Su asked, concern etched in his features.
"I have to be," Ji Yanluo replied, his voice steady but a flicker of doubt crept in. "Bai Zhiqi's future is at stake, and I refuse to let her be painted as the villain any longer."
He walked to the window, looking out over the city that stretched beneath him, illuminated by the fading light of dusk. The world was vast, and the banquet was just days away—a pivotal moment that could shift everything.
"I'll make sure she plays her heart out, not just as a musician but as the woman she truly is," he murmured, the determination in his voice unwavering.
"Then I'll make the necessary arrangements," Han Su replied, stepping back, knowing the gravity of Ji Yanluo's mission.
As the last rays of sunlight faded, Ji Yanluo felt the weight of his choices settle upon him. The battle lines had been drawn, and he was ready to fight—not just for Bai Zhiqi, but against the forces that had kept her hidden in the shadows for far too long.
The time for revenge was approaching, and he would ensure that the truth would finally emerge, no matter the cost.