Reborn: Mafia Queen

Chapter 003 Tearing Off the Mask

After leaving the Rose Restaurant, Shen Qingjiu didn't go straight home. She took a taxi to a coffee shop in the city center and chose a corner seat. About half an hour later, the coffee shop door opened, and a girl in a floral dress hurried in. She had a pure and innocent face, almond-shaped eyes, fair skin, and a gait that carried a touch of pitiful vulnerability. Lin Xue. Shen Qingjiu looked at her best friend from her past life, picked up her coffee, took a sip, and felt a bitter taste spread across her tongue. "Qingjiu!" Lin Xue saw her, gave her a sweet smile, and walked over quickly. "Why did you suddenly ask me to come here? Didn't you say you were going on a date with Senior Lu today?" She sat opposite Shen Qingjiu, curiously examining Shen Qingjiu's attire: "Huh, why are you wearing this black dress? Didn't I tell you to wear that white dress?" Shen Qingjiu didn't answer, just looked at her quietly. The more she liked this face in her past life, the more she loathed it now. Every time she thought about how she had shared all her secrets with Lin Xue—the operation of her family's underground business, her grandfather's schedule, the Shen family's cash flow—she wanted to slap herself. "Qingjiu? What's wrong?" Lin Xue waved her hand in front of her. "Why are you looking at me like that?" "Lin Xue." Shen Qingjiu put down her coffee cup. "How long have you been with Lu Zichuan?" Lin Xue's smile froze, but quickly returned to normal: "What are you talking about? Lu Zichuan and I are just ordinary friends. Have you misunderstood something?" "Ordinary friends? Then what you said to him in the video call last night, was that just a joke between ordinary friends?" Lin Xue's face turned deathly pale. Shen Qingjiu pushed her phone in front of Lin Xue, the screen displaying an audio recording. Lin Xue trembled as she opened it, hearing her conversation with Lu Zichuan coming from the speakerphone. She felt all her strength drain away. "You… how did you get this?" Lin Xue's voice trembled. “Someone sent it to me anonymously.” Shen Qingjiu leaned back in her chair, her tone as calm as if discussing the weather. “Lin Xue, I’ve always treated you well. When you were bullied in your first year of high school, I stood up for you. Your family isn’t well-off, so I let you live at my house, eat my food, and use my things. I treated you like a sister, and this is how you repay me?” Tears welled up in Lin Xue’s eyes as she grabbed Shen Qingjiu’s hand. “Qingjiu, I’m sorry! Lu Zichuan forced me! He said if I didn’t cooperate with him, he would… he would…” “He would what?” Shen Qingjiu shook off her hand. “He would what? Lin Xue, are you still trying to lie to me?” “No, I really had no choice…” Lin Xue cried, her face streaked with tears. “You don’t know how terrifying Lu Zichuan is. He said if I didn’t help him, he would get me expelled from school…” Shen Qingjiu sneered. In her past life, she was the same way, always crying when exposed, her tears softening people’s hearts. Shen Qingjiu had been fooled by this trick countless times in her previous life. “Lin Xue, stop crying. I’m not falling for this anymore.” Lin Xue’s crying stopped abruptly. She looked up, tears still streaming down her face, but her eyes had changed. They held a fierce, venomous look, a look of having been seen through. "Heh, Shen Qingjiu, you're not stupid after all." Lin Xue wiped away her tears, her voice turning sarcastic. "That's right, I'm with Lu Zichuan now. You think I really wanted to be your best friend? If it weren't for your family's wealth, I wouldn't even bother to look at you." Shen Qingjiu remained unmoved: "Continue." "Do you know how jealous I am of you?" Lin Xue gritted her teeth. "Your Shen family is all-powerful in Jiangcheng. Your grandfather's word can shake the entire business world. And you? Good grades, good looks, everyone revolves around you. And me? I have nothing! I only have your charity!" "So you teamed up with Lu Zichuan to try and extract the Shen family's secrets from me?" "What's wrong with that?" Lin Xue sneered. "Your Shen family's money is ill-gotten, obtained through shady dealings. I sold the information to Master Chen, and Master Chen will naturally deal with you. I'm just acting on behalf of Heaven." Shen Qingjiu's pupils contracted slightly. Master Chen. This name was the end of her life in her past life, and now, she finally knew who had leaked the Shen family's information to Master Chen. "Do you know who Master Chen is?" Shen Qingjiu asked. "A Hong Kong black market boss, so what?" Lin Xue said nonchalantly, "He'll do anything for money. Your grandfather's tricks are no match for Master Chen." Shen Qingjiu suddenly laughed. Her laughter made Lin Xue a little uneasy. "What are you laughing at?" Lin Xue asked warily. “I laugh at your stupidity.” Shen Qingjiu stood up. “Do you think Master Chen will give you a share of the spoils just because you provided information? The kind of person he is, he'll eat you alive. Once you're no longer of use, he'll dispose of you like trash.” Lin Xue’s expression changed, but she remained defiant: “That’s still better than following you. Shen Qingjiu, what kind of good person do you think you are?” “I’m certainly not a good person.” Shen Qingjiu picked up her bag. “But at least I won’t betray the person who treats me like a sister.” She walked to Lin Xue’s side, leaned down, and whispered in Lin Xue’s ear: “Lin Xue, we’re not done settling our score yet. You wait.” Lin Xue trembled. Shen Qingjiu straightened up and strode out of the coffee shop. Sunlight shone on her face, and she squinted. She had already guessed who sent that unfamiliar text message. There were very few people in Jiangcheng who could obtain Lu Zichuan’s recorded phone call in such a short time and send it to her anonymously. Lu Tingshen. The man she had saved. In her past life, saving him was just a coincidence, but in this life, that coincidence had become inevitable. She didn't yet know why Lu Tingshen had contacted her the very next day after her rebirth. Shen Qingjiu took out her phone and called her grandfather. "Grandpa, are you home? I need to talk to you." "Yes, I'm home, Xiaojiu." The kind voice of Grandpa Shen came from the other end of the line. "Finished your exams? Come back, Grandpa had the kitchen make you some soup." "Okay, I'll be right back." Hanging up, Shen Qingjiu hailed a taxi. She leaned back in her seat, watching the street scenes rushing past the window. The trajectory of her past life was being altered. She had dumped Lu Zichuan and torn Lin Xue apart, and now she faced an internal crisis within the Shen family. Her grandfather would be assassinated in six months, and she had to do something before it happened. A resolute light flashed in Shen Qingjiu's eyes. Grandpa, in this life, I won't let anyone hurt you. Nor will I let anyone harm the Shen family in the slightest.