<h4>525 Thank Ste</h4>


    As soon as Lexi left the VIP room, Ste Du was leaning near the door. When she saw Lexi exit the room, she straightened her posture and had her arms under her chest.


    "What scheme are you plotting again?" Ste Du jerked her chin forward as her brow arched.


    Lexi deeply inhaled as she stared at the using pair of eyes. For a moment, Lexi pondered if it''s worth talking to the thick-headeddy.


    Upon careful consideration, Lexi chose not to. After all, nothing would get through her head no matter what she says. Hence, Lexi took a step forward yet, Ste Du blocked her way.


    "If you think you can take advantage of Sister Laurel, I won''t let you," said Ste Du with firm resolved.


    "Oh?" Arching her brows, Lexi tilted her head to the side as her thought bubble showed a huge question mark. "Why do I need to take advantage of her though?"


    "Because 鈥?don''t start me with your smart mouth. If I know, you are here just to annoy us!" Irked by Lexi''s question, Ste Du scoffed. Although she only said those to use Lexi, little did she know she hit the bullseye.


    Lexi''s encounter with them was not an ident. She knew that they would be in the jewelry shop. Hence, instead of ambushing Laurel Wang in the restaurant where she had a meeting, Lexi roamed around until the estimated time.


    After all, the said luxury jewelry shop was the perfect ce to have a private talk with Laurel Wang. Well, Lexi was right though as she cornered the woman without causing a scene.


    "Miss Du, I think you forget that I didn''t invite myself to your quality time with your Sister Laurel. So, how can you say I wanted to annoy you?" Feigning innocence, Lexi raised her brows as she shrugged her shoulders. "Aren''t you the CEO of your ownpany now? Why don''t you try acting one? Maybe by that, yourpany will get through your current crisis?" Lexi sweetly smiled as she poked a few nerves of the egotistical Ste Du.


    "You鈥?" Upon hearing herst remarks, Ste Du ground her teeth.


    True, Ste Du''spany was in a critical time. The decrease in their sales, the negative ie from the past month and so on, was the reason Ste Du was trying to destress.


    Benjamin Shao had warned her that if this problem wasn''t fixed, he wouldn''t finance her anymore. Not just that, but if herpany wouldn''t get through this crisis, Ste Du would have to witness Benjamin Shao benefiting all her hard work. It was in their contract, after all.


    Ste Du could not rely on Benjamin Shao nor she coulde crying home to her father as she would be literally disowned. Therefore, with no one to turn to, Ste Du was currying favor with Laurel Wang so she could persuade her to invest in herpany.


    Yet, Lexi brought it up as if it was something funny. Moreover, how Lexi looked at her as if she was someone below her, it hurt her pride.


    For some reason, the time seemed to slow down for Ste Du as her hand came closer to Lexi. In her mind, Lexi deserved it.


    She deserved the p. From the time Lexi took Nico Zhuang''s attention back when they were still studying, and then all the urrences after that 鈥?she deserved this p, Ste Du thought.


    s, before her hand couldnd on Lexi''s face, her wrist was grabbed by Lexi. "Are you sure you''re prepared for the consequences if your handnded on me?" Lexi''s tone and countenance turned stern, her grip on Ste Du''s wrists tightened.


    "So what?! You deserve it anyway!" Frustrated that her p was unsessful, Ste Du roared. She wriggled her hand away from her, but Lexi''s grip didn''t bulge. "Let me go!" She screamed as she red daggers at her.


    With that, Lexi tossed her hand back to her. Her eyes slowly turned piercingly cold. "I will tell you this once, ignorance will lead you nowhere. When you lead apany, hire people and such, the responsibility of their lives is the weight you must bear. If you fail, not only you are affected but also your employees and their families."


    "Miss Du, this is just a sincere piece of advice from a fellow businessman in the same field. Spend your money whatever you like, I don''t care. But, don''t expect people''s praise just because." Lexi added as her gaze never left the stunned pair of eyes.


    "Move," After giving her her two cents, Leximanded. Yet Ste Du remained rooted on the floor.


    She already knew that. Ste Du was well-aware of what Lexi was saying. However, the way Lexi deliver her words, her aura, and the emotions on her eyes 鈥?it was too dominating like a true queen.


    That second, Lexi showed her the difference between them for the first time. Therefore, how could Ste Du ept that upon witnessing their vast difference? It only made her feel all inferiority she hid for so long.


    "Move or be ready for a literal face p." Without batting an eye, Lexi ordered and threatened. Her tone didn''t even waver upon stating such a warning, showing that she was capable to handle the consequences afterward.


    Without a word, Ste Du dragged her feet to the side, giving way to Lexi. She couldn''t even bring herself to raise her eyes for whatever reason or she could say anything. Perhaps it was her instinct telling her not to humiliate herself further.


    "Also, if I were you, stay away from her 鈥?you might get caught in the crossfire." After Lexi took several steps ahead, she paused and reminded the poor Ste Du. She didn''t even wait for her to respond as she resumed on her tracks.


    ****


    "How did you know she''d be here?" When Lexi returned to the main shop, Nico Zhuang''s curiosity weed her.


    "Tss," Lexi chuckled. The look on Nico Zhuang revealed how curious he was. After all, he had gone through all the troubles to know Laurel Wang''s schedule and whereabouts and yet, Lexi also did.


    "People always update their social media ounts no matter how nonsense it is. Thank Ste, because she''s our lead." Lexi leaned over and whispered in a matter-of-fact tone. Her answer, however, caused Nico Zhuang''s brow to twitch.


    So she only stalked Ste Du''s social media ount? That easy?