"Why, indeed?"

---

"Those people are idiots. Why is Ojou-sama even paying attention to them?" Akane commented snidely as she watched the commotion from the monitor of the surveillance cameras. Aki chuckled in response.

"They are idiots. But sometimes idiots also needed to be dealt with. They're good enough for venting anyhow, as long as it makes Ojou- sama happy." Aki turned to the small person leisurely munching on snacks at the corner. He sighed; Akane is too carefree as of late. Aki couldn't help but wish this farce would end already so that they could start their real objective.

As he lamented internally, Aki saw Yan Qing Shan make a subtle hand gesture. He turned to his comms device connecting him to Mamoru who was also on site.

"Mamoru, it's your time to s.h.i.+ne."

A snicker sounded out from the earpiece followed by an annoyed voice. [Ugh, that took too long. I was itching to end these people since I saw them. I ought to cut their tongues out and sew those mouths of theirs.]

Aki sighed. This Mamoru has always been very protective of their Ojou-sama. The two were partners- in- crime. Though, it was usually Mamoru who thinks of all mischiefs and merely dragged their Miss with him. In some ways, Mamoru was one of the rare people who could evoke emotions from Yan Qing Shan then.

"Oi, your siscon is showing. Rein it in."

[Tsk. Shut up, Aki. Ah, this is far from satisfying. I just wanna beat them up. I can't vent on that guy since he looks strong and Ami-chan might beat me up instead.]

Aki furrowed his brows. What was Mamoru saying?

"That guy?" He asked in confusion.

[Ami-chan's boyfriend. Aaaargh! Even saying it infuriates me. My cute Ami-chan was taken just like that. I should have followed her here sooner. Ami-chan is so innocent that she doesn't even realize she's being taken advantage of. Men are all wolves. And now, she got together with a dangerous one. My Ami-chan!]

Aki's face darkened as Mamoru continued to blabber on. He waved his hand in exasperation as he spoke. "I'm pretty sure you got it all mixed up. This is Ami we're talking about. Besides, you seem to have forgotten that you're a guy too. Whatever, just… just do your work."

---

"Why, indeed?" Yan Qing Shan took a step back from Shen Ling and put on a naïve, pensive look. Her hand traced the wet patch on her gown repeatedly as if drawing her answer from there.

"Well it could be because someone wanted to ruin me completely; mind, body, reputation, and spirit. That way I won't be a nuisance in their plans along with the bonus of being able to shame me for their own voyeuristic gratification and satisfy their petty sense of envy. It's quite simple, really." As Yan Qing Shan said her piece, her eyes never left Yan Xiaoyi and Zhao Ming Hua's. If one were sharp enough, they would be able to notice the uneasiness radiating from the two, their stiff forms and s.h.i.+fty eyes giving them away.

Shen Ling stomped her foot in outrage while Yan Xiaoyi covered her mouth to tear away the anxiety building in her heart.

"How dare you insinuate something like that Yan Qing Shan?! Don't you even feel a slightest bit of remorse at what you're doing? You're ruining Xiaoyi's party with your attention-seeking fiasco. Is it still not enough? You're the shame of the Yan family. Aunty, Uncle, and Xiaoyi are unfortunate to be related to you!" Shen Ling vehemently and righteously shouted as she went to embrace Yan Xiaoyi in an attempt to pacify her.

Yan Qing Yu's face hardened at the words of the woman. But before he could even protest, his sister's cold smile brought him to a stop.

'What a pitiful sidekick. Being curbed to your death and not even realizing it.' Yan Qing Shan scorned in her mind as she gave the signal to Aki and Mamoru.

Ironically, Yan Qing Shan's plan was similar to Zhao Ming Hua and Yan Xiaoyi. It was also a presentation consisting of a single video. One might say that in comparison it was quite a weak defense. But considering the principle of quality over quant.i.ty, Yan Qing Shan was far from losing out.

It may only be a single record of a conversation between mother and daughter nonetheless the power of media and the internet is a scary one. Plenty of people have been ruined by rumors circulating in this cyberworld. In a way, it was a brutal s.p.a.ce. Despite the fact that the issues may be forgotten as time pa.s.ses, the fact that it can be retracted anytime is still unnerving. Even if one is a hacker, deleting everything could only do so much.

Yan Qing Shan has also experienced this observable fact in her past life. Thus, she had no doubts as to the effect of her countermeasure nor had she no qualms in using them to these poisonous people.

The widescreen in front of the ballroom once again whirred to life. Two distinctly feminine voices and faces odiously familiar to everyone on site echoed within the area.

The screen projected a luxurious room with a Yan Xiaoyi and Zhao Ming Hua in house clothes. Both had a disdainful, smug smile in their countenance; a far cry from the usual amiable and gentle ones that the people in the ballroom know of.

[My daughter looks happy, huh. Something good happened?]

[Of course I'm happy, mom. That s.l.u.t Yan Qing Shan is the talk of everyone in the web. No one even bothered defending her from all the slander. Your idea was brilliant, mommy. Young Master Lan's reputation precedes him. I won't be surprised if Yan Qing Shan gets mobbed by his admirers.]

[She's too full of herself. Humiliating you like that and taking away your Ace position, she's getting her just desserts. But this much still isn't enough.]

The silence turned to a clamour resembling a wave getting larger and larger as the video progressed. The scene then changed into another setting where a man and Zhao Ming Hua could be seen talking, with the latter bearing a malevolent expression as she spoke.

[Well, your job won't be that difficult. That Yan Qing Shan b.i.t.c.h is stupid. She'll fall for whatever tricks you employ. Just make sure that before the presentation is played, she'll be locked up and unable to go back to the party.]

[Then after that? After I have dealt with the presentation, what should I do with her then?]

[Oh, that's entirely up to you. You can ravage her for all I care. In fact, even that is also good. She'll never be able to match up with my Xiaoyi ever again. She wasn't contented with s.n.a.t.c.hing my daughter's man; she even stole her Ace position. This will teach her a lesson.]

[But she's also your neice, isn't she? So ruthless of you. But I like it. Just don't forget the payment.]

Another silence enveloped the place. The people were too aghast to even utter a syllable. Then a snicker shattered the fragile silence.