Chapter 2: The Woman Who Walked Straight Into Trouble

When Lin Zhiwei stepped out of the fighting arena, she found the sunlight particularly harsh today. She couldn't tell whether it was a subtle shift in her mood, or a sign that something good was about to happen.

As she pondered this, a sharp slap landed across her face, nearly stunning her. Her cheek burned red instantly.

Damn, so it was misfortune after all...

The woman approaching wore stiletto heels and a brand-new dress from House C's latest collection. The diamonds at her chest practically blinded Lin Zhiwei.

In her mind, a lyric echoed: "Little leather skirt, big waves, swaying and twisting, what a sight..."

Seeing Lin Zhiwei's dazed expression, the woman immediately grew more aggressive and snapped, "Lin Zhiwei, don't play dumb with me. Why are you flirting with my fiancé, Qi Heng? Look at you—an ugly freak with this kind of nerve..."

Lin Zhiwei's eyes widened. "Miss, are you blind or deaf? Me, flirting with your fiancé?"

Hell, she hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words with any man in years, let alone flirted. Judging by how furious this woman was, though, maybe the flirting had actually succeeded.

"Still denying it? I have the WeChat records saved. Is this your account? Is this your profile picture? Are these your chat logs?" The woman's eyes were bloodshot with anger as she slammed her phone into Lin Zhiwei and shouted.

Lin Zhiwei steadied herself and looked at the WeChat profile picture. Sure enough, it was hers—her silly Psyduck avatar, and the nickname "Little Sweet Cabbage."

Looking closer at the chat history, it was downright indecent: all sorts of suggestive messages, every possible way of flaunting love in disguise.

The more Lin Zhiwei read, the more interested she became, even scrolling down further. The woman exploded, "How dare you keep looking! Have you forgotten what you wrote? Tell me, how many times did you meet Qi Heng?"

"I don't even know him," Lin Zhiwei replied. "And really, use that golden brain of yours for a minute—why would your fiancé skip dates with you to meet someone like me? Does that make sense?"

She was half amused and half exasperated. This lady was clearly not the brightest. Faking a WeChat account was hardly uncommon.

She hadn't even figured out what was really going on; just a few flimsy pieces of evidence had sent her charging in here on a rampage. It was obvious she was easily manipulated. Whoever was behind this must know her temperament well to set things up so perfectly.

The woman's eyes flickered, but she didn't answer.

Maybe Lin Zhiwei had a point—why would Qi Heng, soon to be officially engaged, ignore his fiancée and flirt with someone like this? It made no sense.

Seeing the woman finally considering her words, Lin Zhiwei flashed a perfect fake smile and asked, "Sister, you seem pretty straightforward. Which family are you from?"

The woman frowned, responding irritably, "Zhao Qianlu."

Lin Zhiwei nodded. The Zhao family—one of the most prominent clans in recent years, well established in China. Their business centered on entertainment, movie investments, nurturing stars, and they even owned their own cinema chain.

This was an excellent opportunity. Lin Zhiwei couldn't help but feel grateful to the scheming woman behind the scenes. She'd been wondering where to find an ally to help her gain a foothold. Her own parents were useless, letting her fend for herself, and under Lin Qiongjiu’s pressure, they never offered any support.

Now, she could only rely on herself, and here was a perfect shade tree for shelter.

"Miss Zhao, I'm Lin Zhiwei, a loyal and principled guardian of beautiful girls. Look at me—safe, reliable. I'll help you find the culprit and clear my own name at the same time. How about it?" Lin Zhiwei leaned in close, her eyes brimming with confidence and allure, making it hard not to trust her.

Zhao Qianlu stared for a few seconds. The girl before her might not even qualify as ordinary, yet she radiated a hint of wildness. Her eyes sparkled like the blazing sun, and if you looked too long, it was easy to get lost in them.

"Hey, sis?" Lin Zhiwei prompted, thinking her silence meant hesitation.

"Ah, alright. If you're willing to clear your name, that shows some integrity. I'll trust you this once," Zhao Qianlu answered, hands on her hips, her tone haughty.

Lin Zhiwei nodded with satisfaction. “Good. First, let’s add each other on WeChat. See? This is my real account. It'll be easier to keep in touch. Send me all the evidence you've gathered, too.”

Zhao Qianlu looked over, puzzled. The name and avatar were identical to the one chatting with her fiancé, but the user ID was different.

"Of course, you might suspect I have lots of alternate accounts," Lin Zhiwei said seriously, raising her brow. "But I don't expect you to take this as proof of my innocence alone. I'll collect more evidence. You can rest assured."

Zhao Qianlu nodded, thinking Lin Zhiwei was nothing like the rumors. Her appearance was utterly unremarkable—except for those unnerving, expressive eyes. Still, she seemed forthright, not as scheming as the world claimed.

"One more thing," Lin Zhiwei added. "As your beautiful guardian, I have to say, any man who can be so easily seduced by a two-faced vixen is not worth your time." She shook her head, full of regret.

"That’s not true—Qi Heng is very kind and gentle to me…" Zhao Qianlu tried to defend him, but her voice grew weaker.

Qi Heng was indeed a refined gentleman, and their families were well matched. But lately, he'd been avoiding her, his attitude growing distant. She couldn’t pretend not to notice, which was why she’d hired a private investigator to track him and check his phone, finally uncovering a clue.

But the woman in question was good at hiding—Zhao Qianlu’s searches had all come up empty.

"Don’t be upset," Lin Zhiwei said, her signature warm smile in place. "Your parents gave you such dazzling beauty, you don’t need to hang yourself on one tree. There are plenty of fine young men in the world, many of whom would be a perfect match. Take your time and choose well."

Hearing this, Zhao Qianlu lowered her head, embarrassed. She’d thought about seeking a better future, but… was it really that easy?

"Alright, since this green tea tramp has run right into my sights, I won't be polite. Let's talk later, sis—I'll be in touch if I find anything." Lin Zhiwei waved as she prepared to leave.

"Then… what should I do now?" Zhao Qianlu called after her.

"Eat well, sleep well, take care of your skin."

...