138: Chapter 138 Sowing Discord

Wang Dahai's reaction was even more enthusiastic than Li Qiang's.

This man, who spent his years hauling cargo, led a dull and tedious life. His wife, Liu Hong, was domineering and shrewish. When a beautiful woman suddenly took the initiative to strike up a conversation, he fell for it almost immediately.

“Brother Dahai, what do you think of me as a person?”

“Good! Exceptionally good! Sister Xiao, you are beautiful and kind-hearted!”

“Then, if I said I liked you, what would you do?”

“I... I...” Wang Dahai was so excited he became incoherent. “Sister Xiao, if you really liked me, I'd divorce Liu Hong immediately! I've had enough of that tigress! Every day she scolds me for being useless, not earning money, and she tries to control everything...”

Xiao Baihe guided the topic: “Does she often speak ill of you?”

“More than just speaking ill! She scolds me even in front of outsiders! Last time at the wet market, just because I was short fifty cents in change, she slapped me in front of a whole crowd! Where was I supposed to hide my face?”

“That's too much.” Xiao Baihe sent a pained expression. “Brother Dahai, you're such a good man, how could she have the heart to scold you?”

“She's just a bitch!” Wang Dahai vented the resentment he had accumulated over many years. “Sister Xiao, you don't know, that woman is both ugly and fierce. Compared to you, she's like a toad next to a swan...”

Xiao Baihe felt a chill in her heart as she watched the complaints constantly popping up on the screen.

These two men weren't exactly good people either.

When their wives were bullying her, they hadn't stepped forward to say a single fair word.

Over the next few days, Xiao Baihe maintained a lukewarm connection with the two men on wechat.

Every time they suggested meeting up for a 'deep conversation,' she would find various excuses to decline.

“Brother Li, I'm not feeling very well today, let's do it another day.”

“Brother Dahai, my period is here, it's not convenient.”

The more they couldn't get it, the more they wanted it.

The two men were kept in a state of unbearable itchiness, their desire for Xiao Baihe growing day by day.

The flirting on wechat was just the appetizer; the real main event was in reality.

Wednesday evening.

Xiao Baihe deliberately 'ran into' Li Qiang and Wang Dahai in the hallway as they were returning from work.

She was wearing that V-neck knit sweater, the neckline plunging just enough to reveal a section of her fair collarbone.

“Brother Li, Brother Dahai, back from work?” She smiled brightly.

The two men's eyes went straight.

Li Qiang rubbed his hands: “Sister Xiao, have you eaten? Would you like to join...”

“I've already eaten.” Xiao Baihe winked. “By the way, I bought some fruit and can't finish it all by myself. Would you two like to come and take some?”

Li Qiang and Wang Dahai, of course, couldn't ask for more.

They followed Xiao Baihe into Room 101; this was their first time entering this room.

The room was simple, but it was kept clean and tidy.

The pothos on the TV cabinet was lush and green, with a camera hidden within it, quietly recording everything.

Xiao Baihe took apples out of a bag and handed them to the two: “Try some, they're very sweet.”

Li Qiang took the apple, his fingers 'accidentally' brushing against Xiao Baihe's hand. She immediately pulled back, a blush creeping onto her face.

This posture of feigned reluctance made Li Qiang's heart race.

Wang Dahai, meanwhile, stared directly at Xiao Baihe's chest, his Adam's apple bobbing.

“Sister Xiao, living alone, aren't you afraid at night?” Li Qiang said, searching for conversation.

“I am.” Xiao Baihe lowered her head, revealing her slender neck. “Sometimes I hear strange noises and don't dare to sleep.”

“Then if anything happens at night, just call me!” Li Qiang patted his chest. “I'll come over anytime!”

Wang Dahai, not to be outdone, added: “You can call me too! I live close by!”

Xiao Baihe looked up, her eyes shimmering like water: “You guys are so kind, but... if the sisters-in-law find out, they might misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what!” Li Qiang said dismissively. “That one at my house can't control me!”

“Exactly!” Wang Dahai chimed in. “Sister Xiao, you don't need to fear them. If they ever dare to bully you again, I'll be the first to object!”

Xiao Baihe sneered inwardly, but her face showed an expression of gratitude: “Thank you both.”

“Actually... I've never understood why the sisters-in-law hate me so much? I haven't done anything.”

“They're jealous of your beauty!” Li Qiang blurted out. “Look at Cuihua—old, ugly, and suspicious all day long. Liu Hong isn't any better, a total shrew!”

Wang Dahai nodded like a chick pecking at grain: “Right, right! Liu Hong's behavior compared to yours is simply...”

The two began to incessantly list their wives' faults, from appearance to personality, from lifestyle habits to social conduct.

Xiao Baihe listened quietly, occasionally inserting a “Really?” or “That’s too much,” guiding them to say even more.

The camera faithfully recorded all of this.

Twenty minutes later, Xiao Baihe used the excuse of being “tired and needing rest” to see off the two reluctant men.

After closing the door, she leaned against it and let out a long breath.

The performance just now had exhausted her, but she felt a strange sense of pleasure.

So this was what it felt like to be in control of the situation.

...

Over the following days, Xiao Baihe began to implement the second step of Cao Kun's plan.

Creating marital conflict.

She bought a cheap lipstick in a very bright color.

While Li Qiang and Wang Dahai were 'visiting' her room, she deliberately rubbed some lipstick onto their collars.

“Oh, sorry Brother Li, let me wipe that for you.” She held a tissue and leaned in very close, the faint scent of her perfume wafting around her.

Smelling that fragrance and seeing her face so close, Li Qiang felt lightheaded: “It's fine, it's fine...”

The same thing happened with Wang Dahai.

Xiao Baihe also deliberately plucked a few of her long hairs and quietly tucked them into their jacket pockets.

These little tricks soon took effect.

On Friday night, while Zhang Cuihua was doing the laundry, she found a long hair in the pocket of Li Qiang's work jacket.

It was curly and brown, clearly not her hair.

Her expression changed. She leaned in to sniff it and caught a faint scent of perfume.

Checking more carefully, she discovered a smear of lipstick on the inside of the collar.

“Li Qiang!” She rushed out of the bathroom and threw the jacket into her husband's face as he was watching TV.

“What is this? Tell me! What is this!”

Li Qiang was stunned. Seeing the lipstick stain and the long hair, he felt guilty, but his voice remained stubborn: “How should I know? Maybe it's from someone at the construction site...”

“Bullshit!” Zhang Cuihua screamed. “Are there women wearing perfume at the construction site? Women with permed hair? You're something else, Li Qiang. You've learned how to cheat, haven't you? Is it that Xiao Baihe?”

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Li Qiang stood up. “Sister Xiao and I are perfectly innocent!”

“Innocent? Then explain what this is!”

...

A similar scene played out simultaneously in Room 103.

Liu Hong found a lipstick stain and a curly long hair on Wang Dahai's clothes.

“Wang Dahai! You explain this to me right now!”

“Explain what! It was just an accidental rub!”

“Accidental? How can an accident leave a lip print? Tell me! Did you go looking for that vixen?”

Both couples erupted into violent arguments.

The noise was so loud that even Xiao Baihe in Room 101 could hear it clearly.

She sat on her bed, listening to the cursing, crying, and the sound of things being thrown next door, her heart perfectly calm.

Cao Kun was right. To deal with wicked people, you must use the methods of the wicked.

...