Painted Lies

The arena was noisy and very busy. Both old and young getting along. Xia Yingying walked over to the restroom to ease herself. When she was done she looked at the mirror and breathed in.

Today was finally the day for the Muzou Arts Competition, she wanted to know how it will turn out. Many things has taken a new turn ever since her rebirth. Hu Mingyou seems to be more quiet ( more like she wasn't the villain at all).

One more thing left her thinking. Well, she was going to check it out during the introductions.

 Xia Yingying walked to the hall that was already buzzing with noise form every corner. She saw Yu Miyo discussing with a blondie, they looked like they were saying something very random but you could tell it was important especially as the man gave out many facial expressions. A part of her wanted to ignore but she just couldn't. It was such a shame she didn't know how to lip read.

" Ohhh, it's that Xia Yingying"

" Yes, it's truly her"

" She's participating in the show ?"

" How many talents those she have "

" It's just acting. What's there ? Let's see what she can offer here"

" Maybe a stickman ?" One of the girl's said in between laughter. After the day Song Lan was taught a lesson she secretly made a vow to never get entangled with Xia Yingying unlike Mi Wegin that was filled with hatred. She has a sick mother to take care of. She just needed to show her love for painting and get the money to treat her mom.

The judges were all seated, among them were a set of twin that was famous all around the world for their creative hands. They had the most pale skin she had ever seen but strikingly beautiful.

They should be around the same age with her mom or maybe slightly older.

 The first contestant was a guy surnamed Feng, his drawing was special and eloquent. It was a painting of a young girl being protected by a bear while men and women chased her with spears and stake. The painting seems to tell a story, Xia Yingying felt herself drawn to that painting. It was like she has a connection to it ( but she lived a normal life in her past life. Why would she feel connected to a witch ?).

" Just forget about it " she thought.

Soon, the painting was taken out followed by another painting. This painting wasn't so alluring like the first but it had the same effect as the first painting. The design look so familiar ( the kind of familiar you know belong to just one person) But she couldn't remember who. The painting was of a woman and a man entangled in an embrace on the bed. It was particularly eye catching. The man looked familiar, he looked like____ Lu Quinzue?

" I'm so sorry, that's the wrong painting" Yu Miyo's voice rang out. "I didn't paint that". As she talked she kept her eyes locked with Xia Yingying.

" So this is it. I knew they had history. Who can explain why Lu Quinzue keeps searching for her even when she was confirmed dead " Xia Yingying thought to herself. Well, they were just contracted couples why would she feel pained. Yingying exhaled the breath she was holding in since.

" But who's she ?" Someone said.

" Haven't you heard ? She's mostly termed as the rumoured dead fiance of Lu Quinzue "

" So, Xia Yingying is an option that was just made available to him" Mi Wegin giggled. She came to support her friend Song Lan but she didn't expect to stumble on such a news and the hot gist was that the painting was painted by this dead ghost lingering around.

Xia Yingying looked over as she saw a leg she has accustomed to seeing every time. The competition was a live broadcast so she knew he was going to come over if he really wanted clue about his lover. Tears filled her eyes but she fought it. She had planned to show the world her painting and that of her mother who most people had long forgotten. So, it was going to end all because of one lady.

" Where did you get the painting?" Lu Quinzue asked Yu Miyo.

" I–I picked it up 3 years ago at the cite where the Tekwen Group is now situated" Yu Miyo was fidgeting, this behaviour a contrast to the calmness she usually showcase. Lu Quinzue eyes darkened but still had an indifferent look.

" Tekwen Group?"

" Isn't that Xia Yingying's company ?"

" Tsk... I knew she was the other woman "

 Xia Yingying didn't see this coming, when did she get trapped in someone's scheme unless..... She looked at Yu Miyo with a different gaze. Hu Mingyou didn't show up in this event, ( Hu Mingyou taunting her life in the past, Yu Miyo conspiring something in this life could only mean there was a mastermind). But what did she have that they wanted?

 She saw Lu Quinzue's suspicious gaze on her, that was the least thing she wanted.

" No one should get Yingying wrong " Yu Miyo spoke out after some time of deliberation. She did see that painting there. What she didn't say was that a masked person gave her a painting to use on this day.

 She didn't know why but she went there in person to check recently. That was when she found out that Tekwen Group was in that land and the CEO was Xia Yingying. Xia Yingying wouldn't implicate herself so... before she could think deeper she received an SMS. It was an alert, a huge sum was transferred to her account from that mysterious person.

 She knew she had dropped a seed of doubt in Lu Quinzue's heart. She felt remorseful but at times she just couldn't control her feelings for Lu Quinzue. She was very much aware of her strange side( she knew she had a split personality) but choose to ignore it because by now she had a huge crush on her President Lu.

 " People change my dear Xia Yingying" . She said as she click her tongue. She stared at Xia Yingying who still hold a calm look on her face. She looked at Xia Yingying with a mischievous smile.

" Hey sister, can you please help me? " A girl's panicked voice rang out. Lu Quinzue's back stiffened when he heard her voice. He looked at the direction where the voice was coming from. Then heard another voice that made him completely freeze.

" Don't slow me down you dummy. I'm on my way to meet big brother Tang" a naive Xia Yingying said.

" Please, please help me. I'm being chased after, I have to reach my big brother " the girl was sobbing by now. What followed next was gunshots and screeching of cars then the audio ended.

 Xia Yingying looked at Lu Quinzue with deep simmering eyes and shaked her head sideways . She has none of this in her memory ( she never talked to any girl like that but she said those things back then when she was still naive and it was to a group of boys that tried to hit on her.

 She didn't know how she walked towards her car but the next moment someone pulled her into another car.

" Why didn't you help her ?" Lu Quinzue asked. Though he was calm she could see the brewing anger within him.

" I don't know of any case like that that happened in my life " she said with indifference. What Lu Quinzue hated the most now was her indifference to everything that happened.

" You better begin to confess or you're going to regret it" Lu Quinzue said as he gapped her left hand strongly.

" Let go of me " Xia Yingying looked at him fiercely.

" You took a major part in her death, you might not know this"

" I said I was unaware of anything concerning her. Everything is fake " Xia Yingying shouted. She was just tired of explaining herself over and over again. Wait..... She thought of something, Xia Yingying took out her laptop retrieve a video from an unknown site.

" Look at this " she said as she turned the laptop towards Lu Quinzue.

 In the video, a ponytail girl walked along a pathway while humming ( she was obviously happy).

" Hey pretty " some group of boys stopped her halfway.

" Hii good afternoon" Xia Yingying flashed them a sweet smile as she tried to walk away.

" Not so fast pretty girl" a blonde hair boy said

"Don't slow me down you dummy. I'm on my way to meet big brother Tang" a naive Xia Yingying said.

" But we want to have a great time with you far better than your brother Tang " one said as they flashed her a mysterious grin.

 Naive Xia Yingying turned away to walk out not suspecting anything in their words. What she didn't know was that a man was in a car looking directly at the boys with cold eyes.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

 Xia Yingying rubbed her eyes again, she wanted to use this video to clear her name online but she didn't expect to see Lu Quinzue in it. Xia Yingying looked at Lu Quinzue who was staring intently on the screen.

 She felt something soft on her lips it was cold, thin and soft. Lu Quinzue kissed her passionately which later turn intense. By now, the driver has risen the partition.

Lu Quinzue bit her plump cherry lip, he liked how her lips tasted though she was not very skilled. e adjusted Xia Yingying to sit properly on his leg, they didn't know how they got to the point where he was already groping Yingying's boobs. Xia Yingying hid her face shyly, what was wrong with her ? Even when she was madly in love with Tang Qing she never let it exceed hugs and holding hands.

 Lu Quinzue was trying to lean in for more when Xia Yingying almost fell down because of a bump on the road. Xia Yingying used this opportunity to get down from him (she was just way too shy ).

" I never knew you were there " Xia Yingying said as she readjusted her clothes. She was referring to the video they watched few minutes ago.

" I never knew you were her " Lu Quinzue said. Lu Quinzue remember always coming across one happy school girl. Most of the time when he was down he would pray for another encounter with her but soon her face became blurry in his mind.

" I'm a big contrast to my old self " Xia Yingying said.

" Not exactly"

" Why do you say so ?"

" You have the same sweet smile when you're happy" Lu Quinzue said.

" Well I'm fierce " Xia Yingying blushed.

" Really?" Lu Quinzue was tracing his fingertips on her bare arm.

" We have the public to clarify" Xia Yingying said with a red face as she turned her head to the window. Xia Yingying opened her social media, it was filled with different comments like:

" Only a true manipulator would be able to do this careful years of planning"

" What a bitch"

" Murderer"

" She's obviously the second woman "

"President Lu wouldn't take it lightly for killing his lover. You better find yourself a shovel and dig your grave. Hahaha "

 Xia Yingying looked at Lu Quinzue whose eyes seemed to have darkened at the last comment.

" Isn't he right ? I better start looking for a shovel" Xia Yingying teased him.

" She's not my lover" Lu Quinzue said.

" You made it appears that way" Xia Yingying actually believed him from the very beginning. " We are being played in someone's game " Xia Yingying continued with seriousness in her eyes.

" Then I guess they don't really know how to play very well since they always get slapped in the face by my woman " Lu Quinzue dragged her cheeks while she giggled like a kid.

"I'm sorry about ruining your plans today" Lu Quinzue said. "Your painting would be uploaded online when the news die down"

" Okay" Xia Yingying said. " What about HER drawing "

" She's just very obsessed " Lu Quinzue said with indifference. " It's the only clue since then. Mom insist on me finding her even if it's her skeleton " he said nonchalantly.

They worked together to post the video on their social media handle. Lu Quinzue went ahead to also make a post on the Lu Corporation platform.

"What do you think of Yu Miyo? " Xia Yingying asked. She remembered asking him before. Lu Quinzue looked at her, his little kitten seems to have caught up on something.

" She has a split personality" Lu Quinzue said. Xia Yingying face changed, her mind running different scenarios in her past life.