Something Beautiful and Wicked

Shi Yen had tasked Shi Ailin to market the products of their skincare line.

Shi Ailin knew she'd be tasked with this responsibility soon enough, and now the success of the new launch depended on her.

She wanted to do something big, and then an absurd idea came to mind. Shi Ailin would need to connect with an airline about placing ads on their screens since thousands of people travel each day. But that required her to communicate with the marketing department at the airport.

Shi Ailin shuddered at the thought. But if she managed to speak to the marketing department without seeing the owner, then it would prove to be a success.

She grabbed her keys, driving towards the vast office building with the view of the runway and parked planes.

At the front desk, she requested a meeting with the marketing team, telling them who she was.

"Miss Shi, our representatives will meet with you in boardroom 4 in about an hour…you can wait for them there," the receptionist said.

"Thank you," Shi Ailin replied, starting down the hall. She clutched at her purse nervously as she walked by. She then saw two people talking in front of an office and froze. One of them was Luo Tian.

She wanted to turn back around, but she couldn't leave. Luo Tian appeared to be wrapping up the conversation, almost heading over. Hurriedly, Shi Ailin opened the door of the closet, closing the door shut behind her.

She exhaled a deep breath against the wooden door, relieved until she realized the closet was wider than she thought, and there was lighting in the room…

She turned around slowly, observing the vast space around her. It was an office, with paintings hung on the walls; each of them told stories of a different time…a different era. Next to them were shelves filled with collectibles. She didn't know where she was, but something compelled her to approach the shelves. There were pottery pieces with written phrases, coins, and scorpions encased in amber.

Shi Ailin brushed her fingers over the delicate pieces. She then picked up the amber-scorpion, observing, fascinated by it.

"What your holding is a relic from the beginning of the Heaven and Earth society," said a deep voice.

Distracted, Shi Ailin gazed at all angles of the trapped scorpion. "Isn't the heaven and earth society, a faction of the Underworld?" she questioned softly.

Shi Ailin froze. It took her moments to realize that she wasn't alone and that she wasn't supposed to be here. She turned around slowly, looking up at Luo Wanting. He wore a cold and aloof expression, arms crossed. She didn't hear anyone walk in, and to think she may have stepped into the CEO's office!

"Mr. Luo—" she said, backing away slightly; her back pushed against the shelf, and one of the pottery pieces fell and shattered.

She bit down her lower lip, shutting her eyes, afraid to look up. This is it, she thought. I'm dead. After a moment, she didn't hear anything, didn't feel anything.

"Step aside," he told her.

Shi Ailin opened one eye, watching as Luo Wanting take a dustpan and broom to clean up the mess. After he finished, he stared at her hard without saying anything.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Luo. I'll replace it!" she said.

"It's irreplaceable."

"I'll pay you back!"

"It's worth 2 million Yuan," he replied.

Shi Ailin sunk to her knees. She didn't have that kind of money all at once; she was terrible at saving. She started to count her fingers, calculating how long it would take to pay him back.

She then heard a soft chuckle coming from him. She looked up, her eyes widening. Luo Wanting had a dimpled grin, seemingly amused with her.

"What's so funny?" she asked mortified.

"You," he said, approaching her swiftly. He knelt down to get on her level, meeting her eyes directly. His storm-green eyes spent time searching for something in hers. He gazed down at her bare legs, and Shi Ailin flushed.

He grabbed one of them, and Shi Ailin said, "Stop!"

Luo Wanting looked at her blankly.

Without meeting his piercing gaze, Shi Ailin said, "I'm sorry with what I've done. But I won't repay you with…with…I won't repay you with my body."

"Your leg is bleeding," he replied flatly.

Shi Ailin looked down at the shallow cut; some blood slid down her leg. It wasn't serious, but she needed to clean it up; otherwise, people would look at her with concern. She then flushed with embarrassment after realizing she had assumed that Luo Wanting wanted to advance on her. She felt like expiring on the spot.

Red-faced, she stood up. "Once again. I'm sorry, Mr. Luo! I will see myself out." She then hurriedly walked away and left without looking back. Her hearted lurched and thumped. Shi Ailin had never felt more embarrassed in her life.

She walked down the empty hall, stopping at the bathroom. She realized she still had the encased scorpion in her hand. She put it away and began to wash up and clean her leg.

She then went to the boardroom, taking a deep breath before entering. She found a small team, and at the head, sat Luo Tian.

Shi Ailin then discovered that the universe was against her.

…

Shi Ailin stood in front of the marketing team, shaken with nerves. She avoided Luo Tian for years, and though they didn't end off in bad terms. She'd still never explained to him why she chose to distance herself from him.

It was complicated.

He wore a playful grin, watching as she stumbled in the room. She glared at him, knowing that he enjoyed this situation.

"Hello, Miss Shi. We've heard about your request," said Luo Tian. "I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid we have to decline. We have signed with a few of your competitors, so we can't advertise products from Lion Labs."

Shi Ailin narrowed her eyes. "Did you review the contracts with our competitors? If there isn't a clause that indicated you couldn't sign with other competitors, then how could that stop you?"

Luo Tian's smile broadened. "We are quite selective. If we sign a deal, then most of our digital ads and banners will be filled with skincare. It's quite boring," he said dismissively.

Shi Ailin narrowed her eyes. She then wondered what Shi Yen would do in this situation.

She faced him coldly. "Then drop one of your clients."

Luo Tian's eyes widened slightly. "That's a bold request. What would compel us to do that? It would break a relationship with one of our collaborators."

"Because we will offer a generous amount to compensate for that loss. We will also pay you more than what our competitors are offering, and more if you sell the products, too." Shi Ailin then slid a contract down the table.

"I thought this was a proposition for ads?" he questioned, flipping through the pages of the contract.

"Hm. Then I changed my mind. I want to sell the products here, too."

"You do realize that people come in and out of airports, and not many stop to shop. It's an airport."

Shi Ailin grinned slightly. "That's where you're wrong. I've already observed the number of sales the airline made for your clothing retailers, alcoholic beverage shops, and souvenir shops. Many of your guests do shop, either because they're bored during a three hour-wait, flight delays, or they forgot to purchase gifts for family and friends. Regardless, it will sell, and of course, you will profit."

Luo Tian leaned back in his chair, still wearing a grin on his face. He whispered something to his team; they nodded and stood, leaving them alone.

He then stood from his chair, approaching her. "We've decided to accept your deal," he told her.

Shi Ailin smiled slightly. "Thank you for the business," she said, reaching out to shake his hand formally.

Luo Tian didn't take her hand.

Shi Ailin creased her brows and decided to pick up her stuff to leave. She started to walk away when she heard him say, "why must you treat me like a stranger?"

Shi Ailin paused, turning her head slightly. "I don't," she replied. "You're Luo Tian. We used to be friends, and now we're business partners. How could I treat you as a stranger?"

Luo Tian frowned, taking a step forward. "I've missed you, Ai."

If he had said this six years ago, then she would have been overcome with joy. She would have leapt into his arms and said those words in return. But now she felt nothing.

"I'll see you soon," she ended the conversation.

Shi Ailin stepped out of the room, trailing down the hall. She paused in front of Luo Wanting's office, idling around. She glanced behind her, and finding no one, she opened the door and slipped in.

Luo Wanting was reading something from his seat. He wore glasses, and the first three buttons of his shirt revealed some skin.

"I'm sorry for entering so abruptly," Shi Ailin said, holding the scorpion in amber, "I needed to return this to you." She stepped towards his desk, putting it down gently.

Luo Wanting removed his glasses. He looked at her and said, "You can keep it."

"Eh? I can't accept that."

Luo Wanting chuckled shortly. "You can. Take it."

Shi Ailin bit down her lower lip. "But...Isn't it valuable?"

"Indeed," replied Luo Wanting. "It was a gift from Emperor Long Yee Sun to his daughter before they were killed in a fire. It's valuable but not sentimental."

Shi Ailin furrowed her brows. "Yee Sun of the Black Society?" she questioned.

"Yes," replied Luo Wanting skeptically. "How did you know?"

Shi Ailin widened her eyes and smiled innocently. "History?"

"It's not something you learn at school."

"The internet!"

He narrowed his eyes. "Do you have some interest in learning about the Underworld?"

Shi Ailin lifted her chin and shook her head. "Nope! They're all criminals."

Luo Wanting's gaze darkened. "Are you sure?"

"Hm," Shi Ailin replied confidently.

Silence stretched between them, and Shi Ailin felt a dense aura radiating from him. The room began to get chilly. Did I say something wrong? She wondered.

"Is there anything else I could do for you, Miss Shi?"

She had wondered if he knew who she was. But she still didn't expect it. She also realized that she over welcomed her stay, uninvited.

Shi Ailin shook her head. "No. Sorry again, Mr. Luo…and, thank you, Mr. Luo," she said as she stood, walking away with the scorpion in hand.

"It's Wanting."

"Yes, Mr. Wanting. Goodbye!"

Luo Wanting chuckled as Shi Ailin left the room and headed back to see Shi Yen.