Chapter 17 - You’re the Cutest

Emi moved fast.

Within an hour, she sent two copies of the contract to the hotel. Wu Yaya asked her to stuff the papers through the crack under the door, which seemed a reasonable request to the manager since Jin Jinxi wouldn’t want to be seen with her face right now.

“Three million in breach fines? You lot are ruthless.” The little crow said inside the door.

“As long as you don’t regret it after signing it and attend the show as we agreed, we wouldn’t make you pay the three million.” Emi scoffed, “Just sign it already. You have no other choice.” 

She was right. Jin Jinxi really had nothing else. Her parents had passed away young, and she slowly backed out of showbiz after marrying Miu Chen. She had no career, no social life, no work experience, and no ability to survive on her own. The moment she left Mu Chen, she was like a small canoe adrift—any amount of turbulence could topple her world.

In other words, a woman who isolates and binds herself to the family after marrying is experiencing another form of emotional manipulation.

Wu Yaya shook her head and signed the company’s separation contract. Then, she told Emi, “You need to add a clause in the contract for ‘How Have You Been?’. If the showrunners change their mind and refuse to let me continue in the show, they must also pay me three million in fines in return.”

The manager almost burst out laughing. Why would the showrunners change their mind? The audience loved good drama, and that nasty abomination of a face Jin Jinxi now had was undoubtedly the biggest drama of the year. When the show airs, who knows how many would specifically buy the platform membership just to see her face!

“You’re dreaming now. They wouldn’t change their mind,” she said with confidence.

“Just add it. Or else I’m not signing it.” The contract was pushed back through the bottom of the door.

Eager to report back to Liu Ruxu, Emi decided to contact the showrunners, who agreed promptly. They’ve managed to secure Mu Chen and Jin Jinxi for this season. The couple’s spot on the trending topics with their drama was their guarantee for viewership; they’d be mad to go back on the contract. 

Once Wu Yaya received the new contract, she read through it thoroughly and signed it without further complaint. It was natural to her that Liu Ruxu would regret her decision soon and pay her liquidated damages.

“Tsk tsk tsk. Making money isn’t so hard after all.” The little crow tapped her talons in excitement.

Emi grabbed the contract from under the door and flipped through it. Afterward, she reminded the girl, sounding satisfied, “The show started shooting in a week. Mr. Mu will send someone to come pick you up. You will be living under the same roof for seven days while being filmed, so be ready for that.”

An amused smile spread across her face when she said that, perhaps remembering that horrendous face Jin Jinxi now had, and imagining how Mu Chen might react once he saw it.

Even if he still had feelings for his ex-wife, wouldn’t they only turn into disgust and loathing at that sight? Who knows, maybe he would even be glad for the divorce. By then, no one would remember how Liu Ruxu was “the other woman”, and this marriage would reach a happy ending with Jin Jinxi’s complete downfall.

The manager sent pictures of the signed contract to Liu Ruxu and left with light steps.

Sitting cross-legged against the door, Wu Yaya scrolled on her phone mindlessly.

Moments later, she could no longer hold back the growing urge in her and dialed a number she had memorized by heart.

“Hello? Who is this?” The sound of Yi Ling’s deep and magnetic voice vibrated out of the speaker.

The little crow felt her ear tingling and rubbed it. Suppressing the excitement in her voice, she whispered, “Excuse me, is this Dr. Yi? I want to book a two-hour therapy session. When would you be free? Can you book me in?”

Yi Ling put down the experiment data he was looking at before and took off his glasses.

Away from any peering eyes, a dark glint gathered in his blue-tinted irises. 

To the world, he was known by two titles: one was the de facto leader of Yi Corp, and the other was a world-class biologist. Only a handful of people knew he was well-versed in psychology as well; even fewer would call him out of nowhere to book a therapy session.

If he charged his therapy sessions the same rate he earned money otherwise, essentially no one would be able to afford two hours of his time. Of course, it would be a different story if he was doing it as a favor.

“And who am I speaking to?” Yi Ling asked in a low tone.

Who else but Wu Yaya would take him being a psychiatrist for granted?

The young man stood up and walked slowly out of his lab into the dim stairwell. He gripped the phone in his hand, staring intently at the wall in front of him with a piercing gaze, as if he could see the one he’d been desperately searching for beyond that wall.

With bated breath, he waited patiently for the other side to respond.

“I’m Jin Jinxi. My mental state is terrible. I was wondering if you have some time to help me, Doctor?” 

A voice as sweet and passionate as a wine chocolate was sharing its owner’s pain, but hidden in it was a wisp of detached teasing. Any other person might’ve missed it, but this was Yi Ling, whose forte was seeing through people. No matter how miniscule the emotion, he could always detect it.

His tone remained gentle and calm, all the while the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, “4:30 p.m. today. I’ll be waiting for you in my office.”

“Alright. Thank you, Doctor.” The young woman’s voice sounded depressed, but the moment the call ended, Wu Yaya giggled into her hands.

On the other hand, Yi Ling also started chuckling after hanging up the phone. He strided back toward his office, grabbing a bowl of candies when he passed by the coffee table in the lounge to place on his desk.

He fingered through the candies and told his assistant, “Go buy a jar of huamei candies, right this minute.” 

The assistant was puzzled by the order, but didn’t dare to question it.

Moments later, Yi Ling received his huamei candies. Instead of pouring the entire jar into the bowl, he stingily picked out a couple and buried them at the bottom.

Assistant: … Have bacteria in the lab gotten into Prof. Yi’s brain?

———

At exactly 4:30 p.m., Wu Yaya arrived at Yi Ling’s research institute.

A receptionist led her into the office and told her in a soft voice, “Miss Jin, Prof. Yi is in a meeting right now. You can take a seat here while you wait. He will be with you shortly.”

The receptionist couldn't stop sneaking glances at the young woman, in equal parts shock and awe.

Didn’t they all say Jin Jinxi’s face was botched from plastic surgery? If this was considered botched, then what do you call the other celebrities?! To hell with the paparazzi who had no limits to the lies they spewed! They turned a goddess like this into an orc in their photos. Outrageous!

Overflowing with righteous indignation, the receptionist left the office. A few minutes later, Yi Ling walked in through the door unhurriedly.

Even though he expected this exact scene to play out, he still couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw it with his own eyes. What he saw was a slender, gracefully curved woman kneeling on the lounge chair with her back to the door. Her soft, slender waist arched, her round, firm buttocks jutted out, and her upper body was propped up by her elbows, draping haphazardly over the desk. With her slender fingers, she flicked candies back and forth in the crystal bowl.

Clink, clink, clink…

She was painstakingly rummaging through the pile of candies just to find the few huamei candies buried at the bottom.

The low arch of her back and the high of her buttocks formed an attractive curve. The skin-tight black miniskirt on her barely covered the bases of her thighs, putting her long, porcelain legs on display. She’d taken off her stilettos whose pink soles contrasted with the plump white toes of hers that curled with joy.

This posture was cute and alluring, showing off every womanly feature in the most advantageous way.

She could seduce any man who walked through that door.

But Yi Ling knew she had no such intentions. In fact, she wasn’t aware of what she was doing at all.

And as he predicted, no matter what form this mischievous little spirit took, she would find him again one way or another, just to toy with him.

At this thought, the young man chuckled.

The sound of the chuckle made Wu Yaya turn and face him, revealing a face both innocent and alluring. In that moment, it was as if a brilliant light had filled the office.

Yi Ling never could’ve imagined a face blessed by the gods. His breathing deepened, and his eyes darkened.

The young woman raised her eyebrows in smugness and asked, “Doctor, am I beautiful?”

After their call, he had looked into Jin Jinxi and naturally found out about her botched plastic surgery. However, he didn’t question the miraculous sight in front of him. After all, it wasn’t an ordinary human he was facing, but a little crow spirit.

“Yes, very beautiful.” He took his time walking into the office and eventually took a seat beside her.

Taking off his glasses, he poured all his attention into looking at her. Gone was his gentle demeanor; his sharpness was now front and center. Just like how Wu Yaya liked to disguise herself with human identities, he was used to hiding his emotions behind his spectacles.

Without the layer of glass filtering his gaze, it was as if the fiery blaze from his deep eyes was licking the girl in front of him.

Wu Yaya was spooked by his staring.

“What’s with you? Are you dumbfounded by my beauty?” She thrust out her chest, trying to appear in control.

“Yes, I’m dumbstruck.” Yi Ling curled his lips and went along with her in a gentle tone.

This was his attempt at showing his goodwill. Receiving this well-intended gesture, the little crow soon left behind the chill she felt down her spine earlier.

She caressed her own face and sighed, “Well, it’s not that beautiful. Barely good-looking.”

The young man had to turn aside to laugh silently before turning back around, asking carefully, “Did you encounter something difficult? Do you need my help?”

Combined with what happened with Lin Xiuzhu, he surmised that the little crow only appeared to fulfill someone’s wish. This time, it must’ve been Jin Jinxi who summoned her. After all, that woman was backed into a corner, just like Lin Xiuzhu.

He just didn’t know what Jin Jinxi’s wish was.

“Everyone calls me a shopaholic. I heard that’s a type of illness too.” Wu Yaya pursed her lips in disdain.

The doctor took out his notebook, taking notes as he guided her further, “What about you? Do you think you require treatment?”

“Not at all. Who doesn’t like to buy pretty things?” Memories of Jin Jinxi obsessively buying jewelry flitted through her mind, making her lust after all those shiny little things. Sigh, if it were her, she’d have cleared out the entire mall!

“What do you enjoy buying, then?” Yi Ling asked as if casually.

“Gems, of course!” The girl shot up from her lazy prone on the lounge chair, and started recounting with vigor, “I’d buy many, many gems, and put them all in a box. When the night falls, I’d pour them out on the ground and shine a mushroom lamp on them, making them all shiny and sparkly. And I’d go in circles around all the sparkles of light. It’s so fun!”

Her face was flushing from excitement, her big round eyes shinier than any gemstone.

Yi Ling found him staring at her blankly; something was dancing on the tip of his heart.

Liking shiny objects is a crow characteristic. He lowered his head and placed two light checkmarks into his notebook, showing he’d gotten the answer he wanted both times.

Just then, the phone he’d intentionally placed beside the candy bowl lit up, showing he’d received a new message.

The light drew Wu Yaya’s gaze, and she glanced at the phone. The moment she caught sight of his background image, her happy expression froze.

“You like silver-throated bushtits?” Her arms circled her chest, and she scoffed. “Doctor, you have such bad taste. Those birds are so dumb! Did you know they suck blood? They peck open animal skulls and eat the brain matter, getting themselves all bloody! Hiss~~ I’m disgusted just thinking about it! They’re like a bunch of uncultured, barbaric birds!”

She waved her hand in front of her scrunched nose, fully grossed out.

Fifteen years ago, when he mentioned rotting stinky eyeballs, the little crow also flapped its wing against its nose. Even when a human was nothing like a crow, the two still bore such a great resemblance. Be it a human form or a bird form, it turned out that this vibrant soul never changed.

Doing his best to contain his mirth, Yi Ling continued to lead her, “Which kind of bird do you think is the cutest then?” 

“Crows, of course!” Wu Yaya tapped the table with her slender fingertips. She said in a haughty tone, “Crows are the smartest birds in the world! The color of their feathers is also special! You humans are so weird. Why would you think they’re bad omens? Did you know, in ancient times, they were hailed as the sacred sun birds?” 

“No, I’m not one of those people.” As he corrected her, he placed a third checkmark in his notes.

He looked up at the girl and said in all sincerity, “In fact, my most beloved creature is the crow. In my eyes, it’s(she's) the cutest.”