Chapter 175 - Becoming Scarlet Wilde

CEO Zhu was coming in two weeks and Scarlet had some preparations to make.CEO Zhu replied to Scarlet's email in two days and fixed a timing where they could meet up to discuss further about the collaboration matter. However, he was unable to confirm the timing for the warehouse and factory inspection yet so Scarlet took it as a hint that it wasn't time to make any movements. Scarlet updated her sister of the meeting and Alex frowned.

"Will you be alright? Entertaining a business partner will mean that you have to cut classes and even apply for a study leave if necessary. Golden Frost might be doing well but Pineapple Group isn't someone we can ignore if we want their help to expand to the East market. Should I accompany you?"

The writer laughed. "It's fine. You have several art assignments due so you'd be very busy. My bridging course isn't something difficult and there are no exams either. I can afford to take a week off from school. Besides, CEO Zhu wouldn't be arriving anytime soon. He said that there were still some urgent matters requiring his attention in Hong Kong so he could only arrange to come to America in two weeks. I don't know if we should let mom know about it. Mom is better at showing guests hospitality but I think CEO Zhu came for more than just business discussions."

Alex smirked. "Why? Does he specifically want your company? Sister, I didn't think you would fall for older guys but seeing as you're a little old-fashioned at times and a serious romantic at heart, I think CEO Zhu will be a good brother-in-law!"

Scarlet blushed and vehemently denied it while Alex pretended not to know.

"I- It's not like that! CEO Zhu and I are just business partners, there's nothing going on behind the scenes. He's just really stressed out at work so it's a holiday for him. I was just going to show him around New York or something... besides, he's not my type."

Alex's eyes widened and she quickly latched herself onto Scarlet, not letting go. "Really? You have a type? Let's hear it!"

At that moment, Scarlet realised her mistake and paled. She tried to escape but even Claire joined in, teasing Scarlet until the blushing girl confessed.

"H-He's someone I met at school..." Scarlet smiled shyly and Alex screamed while Claire nodded with a small smile, urging Scarlet to continue.

"Is he tall? Is he handsome? Is he smart? What's his name?!" Alex demanded to know and the poor writer had to pill the details. Claire quickly confiscated Scarlet's phone to look for the person called Edward Bayon and quickly memorised the phone number before Scarlet wrestled it back.

Alex sighed wistfully. "I thought I'd be the first to get a boyfriend. Who knew that you would beat me to that..."

Scarlet sighed at that. "He's not my boyfriend. We're not friends yet. He's just a friend of Alicia's..."

Claire heard that and raged. "He likes Alicia? He's two-timing you? I'm going to castrate him!"

"No! No! No! He's friends with her and I have only known him for a few weeks! Edward's a nice person but he doesn't talk much. We haven't really spoken because I'm always hanging out with Alicia and her group... There just wasn't the right chance to talk to him. Besides, me liking him is only one-sided. I don't know if he has a girlfriend but I won't be surprised if he has one."

Both the head maid and Alex looked at the writer with pity. Alex gave her sister a hug and told her that it didn't matter what happened in the future. If Edward made her cry she would kick him and Claire promised to help Alex dispose of the body if Alex wanted to run the boy over with a car in the dead of the night.

Scarlet was slightly traumatised by the talks of violence when Claire and Alex started discussing the best methods to torture a sc.u.m so she slowly crept away and returned to her room. CEO Zhu was coming in two weeks and Scarlet had some preparations to make.

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Two weeks passed quickly and even Edward was shocked when Scarlet sent a message in the Edarlet group chat that she would be taking study break for a week for personal reasons. Alicia and the girls tried to find out more but Scarlet remained tight-lipped. Edward tried asking Elfie about it but not even the hacker knew why Scarlet had to suddenly take a week off from school.

The reason became apparent when Scarlet Wilde's social media became active once more. The transformation from Scarlet to Liu Xiu Wen was astonishing even for Edward when he saw it. Edward took time to skip classes even if he had to owe Alicia a lot of favours but he was too worried about Scarlet to sit still. Elfie tracked Scarlet's phone and Edward found out who the writer was meeting.

CEO Zhu Ming Yang of the Pineapple Group was a good catch and Scarlet seemed happy with him. Edward noticed that there were guards and paparazzi tailing the high-profile couple and he could only bite the edge of his paper coffee cup in frustration at not being able to get close to them. He didn't like the Scarlet Wilde personality who was all dazzling and smiles. Edward very much preferred the slightly awkward and shy girl he knows as Scarlet at the university.

CEO Zhu and Scarlet went to one of the fine dining restaurants in the city and Edward groaned. He couldn't possibly follow them inside with sneakers and jeans. Hence, Edward ducked to a nearby store to buy a black blazer even if it was going to cost him a pretty penny. He had to find out why Scarlet was hanging out with CEO Zhu not because he was jealous but because he promised Elfie to keep an eye on the girl, or so he tried to convince himself.

Edward chose a seat close to Scarlet and CEO Zhu in the restaurant but not close enough for Scarlet to recognise him. He was hidden behind a pillar but in hearing range of their conversation. Just to be extra sure, Edward recorded their conversation so that he could review them later. It was a great opportunity to find out more about the number one prime suspect of being in team Anastasia - CEO Zhu Ming Yang. Pineapple Group was definitely guilty for having so many dealings with EZ Express.

Edward: I'm at the scene, see if you can hack into Scarlet's phone and get into CEO Zhu's phone. I can't believe she took a week off from school to meet him! Didn't you say she was laid off the case?

Elfie, who was eating lunch alone, raised a brow at Edward's message. The hacker worked quickly and gained access to Scarlet's phone. He switched on the Bluetooth remotely and searched for the phone number that matched CEO Zhu's phone and laughed. If CEO Zhu was truly guilty as Edward suspected, it wouldn't be this simple to find Anastasia's tail.

Elfie: Shut up, lover boy. You must have lost your brain in the gutter after seeing how pretty Scarlet is. Don't let jealousy get to you, CEO Zhu isn't Team Anastasia. I've checked this phone number before. Even if CEO Zhu is an Anastasia spy, he wouldn't give Scarlet his 'work' phone.

Edward scowled and ordered a regular pasta dish when the waiter came to take his order. He couldn't believe the CEO was not guilty. Why would CEO Zhu meet Scarlet privately then? Shouldn't all business talks take place in meeting rooms or something? Even if they were here to discuss the Golden Pineapple Collaboration project, wasn't it inconvenient to talk about such details in public?

Edward's fears were confirmed an hour later. CEO Zhu paid for the meal and suggested that they headed to his hotel suite. Edward's blood froze when Scarlet agreed and he panicked. Desperate, Edward quickly paid and tailed the couple but was stopped by CEO Zhu's bodyguards. Helpless, Edward retreated and thought of the only way he could think of to check on Scarlet to know if she was alright.

Edward decided to text Scarlet first as Jedd77. Scarlet didn't respond right away so Edward tried another method. he decided to call Scarlet as Edward Bayon from Alicia's stupid chat group.

Back in the hotel room, Scarlet was startled by her phone buzzing. CEO Zhu was kind and asked if Scarlet needed to respond. Scarlet checked the message and ignored it. She would reply to Jedd77 when she wasn't busy. However, soon after that, Scarlet's phone buzzed again.

Apologetically, Scarlet told CEO Zhu that she had to take a call. Ming Yang watched as Scarlet answered the phone shyly. He wasn't a relationship expert but he could tell that the person calling was special to Scarlet.

When the call ended, CEO Zhu grinned. "Your boyfriend?"

Scarlet was startled and vehemently denied but the CEO only laughed. The writer sat down with bright red cheeks and a pout. "Stop that. Don't you also have a lover?"

CEO Zhu hummed. "Only in name. To be more precise, she is my business partner. We're not romantically involved. Also, is it really alright for you to be following me into a hotel? I'm sure your boyfriend called because he had a sixth sense about you being in danger. Not to mention, I see paparazzi following us. We're going to be headline news again. Is that alright?"

Scarlet laughed. "It is a good bait to lure EZ Express into making their move. Say, have you gotten the list of warehouses and companies involved?"

CEO Zhu nodded and passed Scarlet a brown envelope. "We cannot go for warehouse and factory visits yet. The managers working there are still Anastasia's people. I need more time to replace them with my people and time it right so that those who were involved cannot escape. The Chinese government has been alerted but we still do not have enough evidence to make it a case."

Scarlet nodded. "I understand. Golden Frost can be a very good ally for when you need support to prove your case to the government."

CEO Zhu poured a glass of wine for himself and opened a can of iced coffee for Scarlet. "Cheers to our collaboration. May Anastasia's downfall be not far from now."

Scarlet grinned. "Cheers to the prosperity of both the Pineapple and the Wilde Group. Let us not worry about Anastasia's power and the safety of our family."

While Scarlet celebrated, a certain spy was pacing around the neighbourhood suspiciously out of worry. Scarlet sounded sober and alright when she picked up the call but until she left the building safe and sound, Edward would continue to worry.