Chapter Eighteen Introduction
Qin Rao and Zhao Shi's plan was successfully executed.
Qin Rao sent the performance video and related information of the Yunyao Classical Dance Competition to Butler Cheng. Just one day later, Butler Cheng replied, asking Qin Rao and the others to make arrangements, as he needed to meet Yunyao Zhenren first before making a decision.
"Sister, this time the chances are very good," Zhao Shi said, unable to hide her excitement. "I heard that the previous group of people who were turned away, including the Mei family and my cousin's side, all waited and waited. This Steward Cheng is slippery and never gives a definite answer. Moreover, he is very picky. It is extremely rare for us to get a response in one day."
Qin Rao's emotions were not as excited as Zhao Shi's. She responded lightly, thinking to herself, "How can those mundane things compare to Yun Yao?"
In fact, ever since Yun Yao resolutely told her that "we owe each other nothing," Qin Rao's feelings for Yun Yao have become even more complicated.
Perhaps people are just perverse; the more unattainable something is, the more they want it, and the more they are about to lose it, the more they love it.
Qin Rao couldn't help but laugh at herself. It seemed that after personally sending Yun Yao away, she was starting to find it a little hard to forget.
Despite her complicated emotions, Qin Rao proceeded with the original plan. She arranged for Yun Yao to take various advanced courses recommended by Zhao Shi. These courses, which were unknown to most people, were specifically designed to cultivate the emotional intelligence and etiquette of upper-class families in dealing with people.
In addition, they also planned to make use of Yun Yao's greatest strength, classical dance. After discussing with the boy, who had regained his composure and even become somewhat cold and indifferent, they decided on a general direction.
The day arrived, the day agreed upon for the meeting with Butler Cheng.
Qin Rao and her group had been waiting in a quiet and secluded room in a scenic area for a long time.
To get into Cuiwei Manor and meet that lady, one must not only overcome numerous obstacles, but also curry favor with Steward Cheng, the introducer.
Today was essentially the first real-life interview that Butler Cheng gave Yun Yao. Qin Rao and Zhao Shi both took it very seriously and had Yun Yao waiting in the room early on.
However, most of the time had passed, and Butler Cheng was still nowhere to be seen.
Qin Rao hung up the phone for the third time after it went unanswered. She gritted her teeth and said to Zhao Shi, who was frowning on the other end, "What does Butler Cheng mean? Did he stand us up at the last minute? He's not answering the phone either. This has never happened before."
Zhao Shi was also very anxious. He pondered and said, "Sister, do you think someone is sabotaging this? I think it might be the Mei family, or maybe it's the group behind those who didn't get elected, afraid that someone will get ahead of them!"
"Heh..." A mocking chuckle rang out, and Zhao Shi and Qin Rao were both stunned for a moment before realizing that it was Yun Yao who was sneering.
The young man was dressed in a well-fitting black dance costume, which accentuated his slender and graceful figure, making him tall and elegant, like a bamboo orchid, captivating all who beheld him. His exquisitely beautiful features, which even a meticulous ink painting could hardly depict, now exuded a cold and melancholic aura, and the mocking, indifferent curve of his lips made him appear even more strikingly handsome.
Yun Yao glanced at the two men with a mocking look in his eyes. His usual gentle and polite demeanor was gone, and he said with a barbed tone, "Aren't you two being too optimistic? With my background and experience, aren't I worse off than those who didn't make it? Even if we take a step back, that lady and the people around her have seen it all and can't find anyone. Even if I make it through the first round, where do you get the confidence that I can stay? I don't even dare to have that kind of confidence in myself."
Yun Yao ignored the two men whose faces had darkened. He glanced at an unidentified bird briefly perched outside the window and continued calmly, "The son of a corrupt official, a man with an tainted past..." He spoke emotionlessly, then suddenly gave a mocking laugh and sighed, "I'm truly worried about you two..."
Zhao Shi looked awkwardly at the boy whose temperament had changed drastically in the past few days. He couldn't bring himself to respond to the boy's sarcastic remarks, and could only glance awkwardly at Qin Rao.
Qin Rao remained silent. She watched as the gentle and naive young lover of the past transformed into a mature, sharp, and cold beauty after that day. The way he looked at her had also become like that of a stranger, all of which caused her a hidden heartache.
But at the same time, this secretly ignited a new ambition in her, making Yun Yao even more attractive than before...
She opened her mouth, but before she could utter a sound, a cell phone rang, interrupting her. Qin Rao quickly picked it up and exclaimed with delight, "It's Butler Cheng!"
She quickly answered the phone, "Butler Cheng, you've arrived at the club, I'll come pick you up right away... What? You... you're not coming in?"
After a few more words, Qin Rao's expression grew increasingly grim. She didn't know what the person on the other end of the phone said, but Qin Rao could only agree and hang up.
She turned to look at Zhao Shi and gritted her teeth, saying, "Butler Cheng has arrived, but he refuses to come in and see us. He just told me to go out and say a few words before leaving... That old man is playing us. I'll drag him here no matter what!"
She stood up, took one last look at Yun Yao, and said softly, "Yun Yao, think about why you came here."
"I'm going now." After saying that, Qin Rao quickly walked out.
In a secluded corridor, Qin Rao saw Butler Cheng, accompanied by several attendants, waiting for her.
The surroundings were quiet, clearly indicating that they had already cleared the area and made sure there were no unauthorized people nearby.
"Butler Cheng," Qin Rao immediately greeted him with a warm smile, "I've been waiting for you for so long."
"Since you're already here, why don't you come in and take a look..."
Despite Qin Rao's sweet talk, Butler Cheng's expression remained cold and indifferent. He raised his hand, stopping Qin Rao from finishing her sentence.
He frowned and said to Qin Rao, "President Qin, you're not being honest. The only reason I came here today is because of my two nephews, to give you a final explanation. The Yun Yao you recommended is a good dancer, but..."
Qin Rao's heart skipped a beat, thinking that Butler Cheng was about to bring up Yun Yao's father's imprisonment. But to her surprise, the seemingly nonchalant Butler Cheng continued with a hint of disdain, "But he's not clean. I've already investigated his background; he had a relationship when he was sixteen or seventeen, and later..."
Butler Cheng glanced at Qin Rao with some anger at being tricked, and his tone became stern: "President Qin, didn't he become your lover for two years afterward? It's really not fair of you to recommend your own person. If it weren't for the fact that you are my nephew's benefactor, I wouldn't let this go so easily!"
He didn't even glance at Qin Rao's suddenly pale face, and said decisively, "That's it! No matter how beautiful, something unclean is useless. Not just anyone can enter Cuiwei Manor; don't defile it..."
Before he could finish speaking, a very pleasant young man's voice interrupted him. "Butler Cheng."
Butler Cheng looked up in surprise at the suddenly appearing Yun Yao, and was stunned at first glance. After a long while, he turned to Qin Rao and asked hesitantly, "This...this is Yun Yao?"
Qin Rao was also somewhat surprised that Yun Yao had come over. She looked at Yun Yao over there and then at Butler Cheng over here. She realized that truly beautiful people are often not photogenic. Butler Cheng probably only glanced at the dance videos and photos she had posted. The real Yun Yao was indeed more stunning than any photos or videos could capture.
Her unparalleled beauty and rare charm were not simply a matter of love being blind.
Qin Rao smiled, seeing the housekeeper's reaction, she knew there was room for maneuver, so she took the opportunity to explain to the housekeeper in a kind and gentle manner.
She only said that she truly admired and was sincere. Upon hearing the news about Butler Cheng, she immediately wanted to send it over, knowing that she had it. It was a genuine expression of her heart, without the slightest disrespect.
Butler Cheng felt much better after hearing this. He then carefully examined Yun Yao, who was standing smiling to the side. After a slight hesitation, he seemed to think of something, his eyes darkened, and he ultimately changed his mind and followed Qin Rao and Yun Yao to the originally planned room.
...
While things were going smoothly for Qin Rao, the Mei family on the other side of Nanhang received devastating news—the boy named Ranran had been sent back to the Mei family.
Zhao Huan and President Mei were practically going crazy. Although they had a premonition that Ranran might not succeed, they never expected her to leave so quickly and completely.
They excitedly asked the boy what he had done to anger them, but the boy was also aggrieved. He said dejectedly, "I didn't do anything! It was just for no reason..."
"Think about it again!" Zhao Huan said urgently. "There can't be no reason. Think about it, what happened the last time you saw that lady?"
"Nothing's wrong!" Ranran cried out, feeling aggrieved. "Madam is just like before, but ever since that rain incident, she's seen me even less. That day, I happened to run into her, so I quickly greeted her warmly. Before, Madam always liked my energetic self..."
At this moment, President Mei, who had been silent, suddenly pointed to a small red dot on Ranran's nose as if she had noticed something and asked, "What's this on your nose? I didn't see this red dot on your nose before?"
"Huh?" Ranran touched her nose, then remembered something and said in a slightly guilty voice, "I received a new nose stud from a friend abroad a couple of days ago. I couldn't resist trying it on secretly, but... but I took it off right away. I remember what you said, I didn't take it out."
Zhao Huan and President Mei exchanged a glance, and they instantly understood why Ranran had been returned.
They sighed deeply, disheartened.
...
In contrast to the gloom and despair of the Mei family, Qin Rao and Zhao Shizhi were full of pride and joy.
They had already made an agreement with Butler Cheng, who would find an opportunity to introduce Yun Yao to that lady.
Butler Cheng's timing was very clever...
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