"Thank you, Miss Yangzi, for your generous praise. An insult from an enemy is the best compliment to me."

Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily, reducing the volume of the video recording again so his sister-in-law wouldn't overhear and discover that he'd been fooling around with other women while she was pregnant, which wouldn't be too good.

There were only two months left until the due date, and he didn't want Aoyama Haruko's mood to be affected during this time.

He was actually quite considerate.

"Bitch!" As she listened to Aoyama Xiu Xin's laughter, Hashimoto Youko wished she could flay him alive. Since she couldn't blackmail him, she was ready to hang up the phone.

Sensing her intention, Aoyama Xiu Xin preempted her and said, "Unless I'm mistaken, your marriage to Zhongshan Taka has already ended, hasn't it?"

"It's all thanks to you, you and I are sworn enemies!" Without mentioning the matter, it would have been fine, but just thinking about the lost love, Hashimoto Youko almost shed her precious tears.

"Don't be too sad. This incident shows that he's not a good match for you, not as good as I am," Aoyama Xiu Xin sighed and said earnestly: "I don't even mind that you've been with him so many times. Now that I've had you once, and for that, he becomes petty—it shows he's narrow-minded. It's clear proof he doesn't love you as much as I do. Such a man is not worth keeping."

"Shut up!" Hashimoto Youko retorted in anger and shame. These things couldn't be compared, could they?

Aoyama Xiu Xin chuckled again, then curiously asked, "Was it to help Zhongshan Runmei that you fell into my hands? Zhongshan Taka doesn't want you anymore, but did that old woman not speak for you at all?"

Hashimoto Youko fell silent, feeling suffocated with frustration.

It was for this reason she resented Zhongshan Runmei.

"Ts, it seems I guessed right. She really is heartless," said Aoyama Xiu Xin, clicking his tongue.

Hashimoto Youko, sensing there was more to his words, interrupted impatiently, "Enough, Aoyama Xiu Xin, what exactly do you want to say? Stop beating around the bush."

"If you want to take revenge on Zhongshan Taka and Zhongshan Runmei, you might as well cooperate with me." Aoyama Xiu Xin revealed his ultimate purpose, as clear as a dagger coming to light.

Hashimoto Youko laughed in anger, instinctively rejecting the idea, "You think if I want to take revenge on them, I won't want to take revenge on you? Aoyama Xiu Xin, I loathe each and every one of you equally, bastard!"

"You may want to do a lot of things, but can you really accomplish them? People should measure their own capabilities," Aoyama Xiu Xin mocked lightly, and began to speak about facts and reason: "If you put aside your bias against me and think about it, you wouldn't be able to take revenge on me on your own, let alone have the ability to retaliate against Zhongshan Runmei. Think it over before you answer me."

Hashimoto Youko's face was a mix of cloud and sunshine. Moments later, a sense of defeat crept in. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that Aoyama Xiu Xin was right. It would indeed be difficult to take revenge on Zhongshan Runmei on her own, but with his help, the difficulty would significantly decrease.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, we can cooperate. After all, we've already been together," he said.

"Shut up!" Hashimoto Youko shouted in a mix of shame and anger, exhaling sharply, "How do we cooperate?"

"It's simple. Zhongshan Runmei feels a degree of guilt and a desire to compensate you, and she lacks useful people by her side. If you remain with her, you can still gain her trust. We can work together inside and out to set a trap for her, acquire leverage, and from then on, she can only be blackmailed by me, and will quietly be my puppet."

"For an ambitious woman like Zhongshan Runmei, what could be more painful than this? It's undoubtedly the best revenge on her. As for my comrade in arms, Zhongshan Taka, if you want to deal with him, I have 100 methods, a whole 100 of them!"

"Heh, you're quite shrewd," Hashimoto Youko scoffed, "By doing this, I'd be helping you out completely. Don't forget, I hate you too."

"I know, which is why I haven't finished speaking yet." Aoyama Xiu Xin spoke calmly, continuing, "As for the harm I've done to you, it's not necessary to take revenge to make amends. I can provide compensation instead. If you help me get Zhongshan Runmei's leverage, I will arrange for your promotion to police inspector. A 25-year-old police inspector, with boundless prospects. From now on, you control your own fate."

By helping Hashimoto Youko become a police inspector, she would be limited to that rank for the rest of her life. But if she truly become an inspector, she would naturally not be satisfied with stopping there and would eagerly cling to Aoyama Xiu Xin for her future prospects.

Police inspector!

That compensation was enough.

Hashimoto Youko's breath hitched, her voice dry as she said, "What if you go back on your word?"

If she could become a police inspector and take revenge on Zhongshan mother and son, she was willing to let go of her hatred for Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"Let's meet in person. I can say this in front of you and allow you to record it," Aoyama Xiu Xin expressed his willingness to give her an assurance without any hesitation.

"Fine," Hashimoto Youko let out a breath and pursed her lips, "I'm going to buy a voice recorder now, and we'll meet at Central District Sports Park in half an hour."

"See you there," said Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Hashimoto Youko hung up the phone directly.

.........

Half an hour later, Central District Sports Park.

It was the dead of night, and not a soul was around.

From a distance, Aoyama Xiu Xin saw Hashimoto Youko's car. After parking his own, he walked inside for about three to five minutes and saw Hashimoto Youko standing beside a tree.

The night breeze was gentle, causing her ear-length short hair to become a little messy. She crossed her arms, squeezing her heavy conscience as if it was about to leap out, polished by the round moon above.

Hearing footsteps, she turned to see Aoyama Xiu Xin and snorted coldly, her face darkening. Then she turned her head back again, still harboring anger inside.

"Miss Yangzi, we meet again."

Aoyama Xiu Xin walked up and said with a slight smile.

"Cut the crap and don't waste time," Hashimoto Youko took out the voice recorder. "Say what you need to say."

"Alright, as long as Miss Yangzi can help me get a hold of Zhongshan Runmei's leverage, then I will assist you in being promoted to police inspector," Aoyama Xiu Xin enunciated clearly.

Hashimoto Youko turned off the voice recorder, then asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid I will directly make this recording public, which could harm your image?"

"To cooperate with Miss Yangzi, I naturally have to take risks to show my sincerity. Besides, I believe you cannot refuse my terms," replied Aoyama Xiu Xin with a confident face.

He wasn't worried about this at all. With his current status, it was just a recording. What could they possibly do to him? They couldn't cause any real harm.

Of course, it would inevitably cause him some trouble.

Hashimoto Youko couldn't help but admire Aoyama Xiu Xin's audacity. With a complex look in her eyes, she sighed. The situation was truly unpredictable, teaming up with a former enemy to deal with a former friend in the blink of an eye.

"What exactly do you want me to do? There's not much to hold against Zhongshan Runmei, and we can't just rely on my improvisation," said Hashimoto Youko.

"Since I've sought your cooperation, naturally I've already devised a plan," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied with a confident smile, then slowly laid out his strategy. "First we'll do this... then this... and finally this, getting revenge on both Zhongshan Runmei and Zhongshan Taka."

"You really are vicious to think up something like this," Hashimoto Youko said with an exhalation.

Aoyama Xiu Xin chuckled, "Don't you have the heart?"

"My heart is long dead," Hashimoto Youko admitted reluctantly, though she was somewhat unwilling to admit it. Puffing out a breath, she said, "Let's just go with your plan."

With those words, she turned and prepared to leave.

Aoyama Xiu Xin grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, his gaze intense. "Don't you think it's a pity that we were interrupted by Zhongshan Taka just now?"

His implication was clear as his hand caressed Hashimoto Youko through the thin fabric of her slip dress.

Hashimoto Youko's face changed color, but she didn't struggle.

Since her engagement with Zhongshan Taka was over, there was no need for her to maintain any chastity. Besides, she had a lot of negative emotions inside that she wanted to vent.

She also felt a sense of satisfaction in taking revenge against Zhongshan Taka.

But in this place...

"Here?" She looked around at the surrounding trees, fearing someone might suddenly appear.

"Never tried it outdoors?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked with a smile.

"I'm more traditional. I never agreed to Zhongshan Taka's excessive demands," Hashimoto Youko huffed with furrowed brows, panting.

"The past is the past, and the present is the present, Miss Yangzi. It's time for you to live differently," Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed out loud, then carried her slender form to a tree, "Lean on the tree, bend over, and stick out your butt."

Hashimoto Youko bit her red lips, shooting him an annoyed glare, but obediently followed his instructions.

The position was humiliating, and her face flushed crimson.

"What if someone sees?" she fretted amidst the thrill.

"It'll be his lucky day, quite a treat," Aoyama Xiu Xin quipped, but quickly reassured her when she moved to get up, "Don't worry, my driver is outside watching. He won't let anybody come by."

He didn't actually have a taste for being watched.

"Hmph," Hashimoto Youko closed her eyes and her body trembled slightly as she waited to receive the man behind her.

Jin Yucheng stood nearby, smoking. He couldn't see the two clearly, only the treetop swaying continuously, shaking for over half an hour before stopping.

On the way home, Hashimoto Youko bought a pill to prevent pregnancy. After returning home, she locked herself in the bathroom and repeatedly washed herself, all the while crying uncontrollably until she had cried herself out.

Twenty minutes later, naked, she stood up leaning against the wall, looking at her slightly haggard reflection in the mirror, her lips somewhat chapped.

"It's time for you to live differently."

She spoke to herself in a low tone.

The next morning, dressed in a police uniform, striking and spirited, she knocked on Zhongshan Runmei's office door.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Come in," Zhongshan Runmei called out.

Hashimoto Youko entered with breakfast in hand, as docile and gentle as ever, "Auntie, breakfast."

"You...," Zhongshan Runmei was taken aback, assuming that Hashimoto Youko would have turned against her.

Hashimoto Youko pursed her lips and forced a strained smile, "I love Taka. As long as he is not married, I believe that I can touch his heart and win him back, and I will eventually gain your acceptance."

Zhongshan Runmei sighed out, feelings of melancholy surfacing, "You really don't need to do this."

"Auntie, if I don't try, I might regret it for life. I have to try before I can completely give up," Hashimoto Youko said with determination on her small face.

Zhongshan Runmei didn't try to persuade her further, knowing that as long as she dangled the prospect of marrying Zhongshan Taka in front of Hashimoto Youko, she could ensure a reliable person by her side.

Especially since Aoyama Xiu Xin had seen through the honey trap, her strategy of showing weakness to the enemy was useless. She was sure he would counterattack her next.

She was in urgent need of someone trustworthy.

With that thought, she showed a tender and kind smile, "Youko, even if you and Taka can't be husband and wife, I will still treat you like a daughter."

"Mhm," Hashimoto Youko nodded, lips pursed.

Deep inside, she couldn't care less about those words.

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