IHWL – Chapter 55.1

Chapter 55: Money 

“Miss Su, what do you think?”

    Seeing Su Jin staring at the check without saying a word for a long time, Mrs. Mu didn’t know what she was thinking, so she simply urged her to make a decision.

    Su Jishi found Mrs. Mu really interesting, but this ‘interesting’ was a derogatory kind of interesting.

    Without even touching the check, she averted her eyes, smiling, but not laughing: “Mrs. Mu, since you said that Mu Xiulun’s still has unforgettable ‘old love’ for me, and I also has ‘remaining love’ for him, why do you think that a mere check can buy me off? Have you never thought that we love each other?”

    “…Love each other?” This answer was completely out of Mrs. Mu’s expectation, but she only froze for a second before asking back in a mocking tone, “How is that possible? Even if he was just a private … adopted son, the Mu family would never allow him to marry an actress. Besides, do you think I don’t know what you love about him?”

     Su Jishi pondered for a moment. She felt that the man, Mu Xiulun, apart from being arrogant, narcissistic, temperamental, loved to add drama to himself and often tormented his subordinates, could still barely be considered an attractive man. However, she thought it over repeatedly, and really couldn’t understand what she could ‘love’ about him.

    So Su Jishi asked without shame, “Then may I ask Mrs. Mu? What do I love about him?”

    Mrs. Mu rightfully answered, “Of course you love his money!”

    Su Jishi: “…”

    What a simple and brutal answer.

    Su Jishi never imagined that she would one day become a heroine who would bend over backwards for ‘money’ in the eyes of others. However, the relationship between Mu Xiulun and Su Jin did start because of a mistress contract, so Mrs. Mu’s speculation was very much in line with her own logic.

    Su Jishi wasn’t at all annoyed, and her eyes fell back on the flimsy piece of paper.

    She smiled: “Mrs. Mu, you are indeed right. I do love money.” She gently drew the check for 10 million from Mrs. Mu’s hand with two fingers, her beautiful eyes lingering on the string of zeros: “But if you want me to do something for you, this price is not enough.”

    Mrs. Mu was relieved. She satirized her greed, while celebrating her superficiality. Mrs. Mu put up a stance. Sitting straight and upright inside the back seat, most of her face was shrouded in the car’s lights, while the chill at the corners of her mouth was hidden in the darkness.

    “I understand,” she said, “Miss Su, you are a first-line actress in the entertainment industry. If you are willing to take risks for me, I will naturally show my sincerity.”

    After saying that, she gave a wink, and the bodyguard nearby immediately drew a blank check from his pocket. He held it forward and presented it to Su Jishi with both hands.

    Su Jishi’s eyes turned to the blank check, but did not take it.

    “Miss Su,” said Mrs. Mu, “Write the figure as you like.”

    Su Jishi said, “No need.”

    “You don’t need to be polite.”

    “I’m not being polite,” Su Jishi retorted proudly, “There isn’t enough space on the check for the digits I’ll write.”

    Mrs. Mu: “…”

    Mrs. Mu: “……”

    Mrs. Mu: “………”

    The highest figure on the blank check was ten million, but Su Jin actually said that it wasn’t enough…She really could demand an exorbitant price! 

    Mrs. Mu thought she was deliberately teasing her, so she sneered, “You look so young, but quite crafty.”

    Su Jishi replied, “Not as much as you, Madam, older and much more crafty.”

    The two women were already going to tear their faces off.

    In Su Jishi’s eyes, everything Mrs. Mu did today could only be explained in four words, ‘without rhyme or reason’. She had no desire to get involved with the Mu family and just wanted to spend her last year in the entertainment industry in peace and quiet. Who would have thought that Mrs. Mu would add her own drama and run to her for no reason? Did she think she lacked this 10 million? 

    What she lacked was three billion ah!

    Mrs. Mu sneered, “Su Jin, I did not expect that you have such a big appetite.”

    Su Jishi replied modestly, “That’s what my agent said the last time we had a boxed lunch on the set.”

    “…”

    Mrs. Mu averted her face in fury, slammed the car door and took off.

    Looking at the car’s taillights disappearing into the night, Su Jishi cursed, “Stupid.”

    *