Chapter 43: Schemes and Machinations

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Zhang Xiaofan began to pace around the room. Following Liu Yu’s guidance, his gaze finally settled on an unknown potted plant by the windowsill.

The plant had many branches and leaves, and at the very top, three bright red flowers were in full bloom. Taking a closer sniff, Zhang Xiaofan realized that the scent in the room was coming from this very spot.

“The foul odor is coming from here. If I’m not mistaken, this is corpse-absorbing grass. This plant typically grows near corpses, feeding on their nutrients to thrive. Once mature, it produces these gorgeous flowers. The fragrance, however, carries corpse poison—we call it the evil scent. It’s extremely insidious. Someone is trying to harm Zhou Jiajia,” Liu Yu explained.

Just then, Zhou Jiajia emerged after applying her ointment. The effects hadn’t yet taken hold, but she was visibly happy and told Zhang Xiaofan that once her skin recovered, she would thank him properly.

But Zhang Xiaofan’s expression was solemn. “Zhou Jiajia, someone is trying to harm you.”

He gestured at the corpse-absorbing grass and explained the situation, concluding, “This plant is exceedingly rare. Ordinary people would never get their hands on it unless someone deliberately grew it. It’s not available on the market, so it’s almost certain that someone bought this plant and placed it here to hurt you.”

Zhou Jiajia’s face turned pale as she stared at the plant. “Is what you’re saying true?”

“If you’re unsure, think back to how you’ve been feeling lately,” Zhang Xiaofan replied.

Zhou Jiajia’s voice was cold. “Actually, I’ve been suffering from insomnia for a long time. Even when I manage to sleep, I keep having nightmares, and my temper has become irritable. Could it be because of this plant?”

“Of course. The corpse-absorbing grass contains hallucinogenic properties. Prolonged exposure can lead to mental instability. Who gave you this plant?” Zhang Xiaofan asked.

Zhou Jiajia thought for a moment and then glanced toward the door at her assistant. “My assistant, Huang Xiaohong.”

“Very well. Let her come in. I want her to confess herself,” Zhang Xiaofan said.

Zhou Jiajia called Huang Xiaohong inside. Huang Xiaohong greeted her warmly, “Jiajia, you’re better! That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”

No one responded to her. Zhang Xiaofan held up the corpse-absorbing grass and asked, “Where did you get this?”

Huang Xiaohong’s expression changed, but she quickly composed herself. “The flower and bird market…”

“Oh? Is that so? This scent is lovely. Why don’t you get a good whiff of it?” Zhang Xiaofan stepped forward, holding the plant toward her.

Huang Xiaohong immediately backed away. “I don’t want to smell it.”

“Oh? Why not? It’s quite pleasant. But I’ve heard that after inhaling enough of this scent, people can lose their minds, even become idiots,” Zhang Xiaofan said. “Though, that’s just a rumor—probably not true.”

Huang Xiaohong’s face changed again. “What are you talking about? I don’t want to smell corpse-absorbing grass.”

“Hmph, I never mentioned its name. How did you know?” Zhang Xiaofan pressed.

Seeing she couldn’t hide it any longer, Huang Xiaohong burst into tears. “Jiajia, I’m sorry! I was wrong…”

“Huang Xiaohong, you’ve been with me since you were twenty. I’ve always treated you well. Why would you do this to me?” Zhou Jiajia demanded angrily.

Huang Xiaohong knelt down. “I had no choice. My boyfriend’s business failed and needed money. My younger brother is sick and needs money. My parents are constantly on medication and need money, too.”

“I pay you twenty thousand a month, far more than others. And yet you still tried to harm me?” Zhou Jiajia said coldly.

“It’s not enough!” Huang Xiaohong shook her head.

“Didn’t I lend you a hundred thousand last year?” Zhou Jiajia pressed.

“It still wasn’t enough!” she wailed.

Zhang Xiaofan, annoyed, said, “Why does your boyfriend come to you for money when his business fails? Can’t you just refuse? It’s understandable that your family needs money for illness, but getting money by harming others—do you really think you can sleep soundly? You fool, still playing the victim now. The only reason you tried to hurt Zhou Jiajia for money is your own greed. Not only are you ungrateful, you even conspired with outsiders to harm your employer. You’re a traitor.”

Huang Xiaohong trembled. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Speak. Who ordered you to do this?” Zhang Xiaofan demanded coldly.

“I can’t say. If I do, I won’t get the rest of the money,” Huang Xiaohong replied stubbornly, admitting guilt but refusing to reveal her accomplice.

Zhou Jiajia was furious. “Even now, you’re still protecting someone else!”

“Jiajia, you’re a big star. You’ve already made so much money. Just let this go. Now that you know what I’ve done, you won’t hire me anymore. That last payment is all I have left. Please, just let me go,” Huang Xiaohong pleaded, her eyes darting nervously.

“Xiaofan, when Zhou Jiajia went to apply her ointment earlier, I saw Huang Xiaohong outside, contacting someone. Do you think she was in touch with whoever instructed her?” Liu Yu reminded him.

A light flashed in Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes. He strode over and saw that Huang Xiaohong was gripping her phone tightly. He snatched it from her, and saw that the screen was still unlocked. Opening her contacts, he saw the name Shen Daiying.

There were messages, too: Huang Xiaohong: “Sister Shen, Zhou Jiajia’s skin suddenly recovered.” Shen Daiying: “What? How is that possible?” Huang Xiaohong: “A young man came and applied some ointment; her skin is fine now.”

The conversation ended there, as the other party hadn’t yet replied. Zhang Xiaofan handed the phone to Zhou Jiajia, whose chest heaved with anger.

She was furious—her closest assistant had colluded with an outsider to harm her, and that outsider was once her best friend.

“So, Huang Xiaohong, it was Shen Daiying you were working with. Do you have anything else to say?”

Now that the truth was out, Huang Xiaohong seemed to stop caring. She stood up and said coldly, “Yes, I did it. Since it’s already happened, I have nothing more to say. Just settle my salary for this month and I’ll leave.”

As she spoke, she tried to snatch her phone from Zhang Xiaofan.

There was no way Zhang Xiaofan would give it to her so easily. “How shameless can you be? After harming someone, you still have the gall to ask for your wages?”

“Huang Xiaohong, are you mad for money? At this point you’re still asking me for your salary. Do you really think I, Zhou Jiajia, will give it to you?” Zhou Jiajia cursed.

Huang Xiaohong sneered. “Zhou Jiajia, I know you’re about to make a comeback, but what’s the use? You’re already washed up. And don’t think that just by getting rid of me, your troubles are over. Believe it or not, I’ll go to the reporters and spill everything about you. You may be out of the spotlight, but I bet plenty of journalists will still be interested. That’s worth a lot of money.”

Zhou Jiajia trembled with rage. “Huang Xiaohong, you’re despicable. I only gave you a chance because you came from the countryside, and I looked after you so well.”

“Ha, people die for money, birds die for food. That’s just the way the world works,” Huang Xiaohong replied, utterly shameless.