Their Respective Pieces

Li Mucheng narrowed her eyes slightly as she surveyed the desolate street around her. She didn’t doubt the credibility of the phone call for a second—she could sense the unmistakable bitterness in the voice of the woman named Shen Mengli on the other end.

But why had Shen Mengli chosen such a secluded location for their meeting?

Just as Li Mucheng was pondering this, a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

"Welcome, Miss Li Mucheng. My apologies for not greeting you properly."

Li Mucheng blinked slowly before turning to face the figure behind her. When her eyes finally settled on the person, a flicker of surprise passed through her otherwise calm gaze.

Shen Mengli sat gracefully in a wheelchair, her frail form contrasting sharply with her composed demeanor. With snow-white hair and crimson eyes, she looked every bit the delicate, sickly girl. Li Mucheng’s expression remained icy, her thoughts unreadable, though the tension in her chest eased slightly at the sight of Shen Mengli’s wheelchair.

"Who... are you? I’ve never heard Teacher mention you before."

Shen Mengli lowered her head, her fists clenching around a small stuffed bear in her lap. Her voice trembled with suppressed frustration.

"Because... I’m incomplete. Someone like Ye Feng only looks at me with pity."

Li Mucheng studied her carefully, searching for any hint of deception, but the raw emotion in Shen Mengli’s voice seemed genuine.

"Then how did you meet him?"

"It was one day when..."

Shen Mengli recounted her encounter with Ye Feng, weaving a half-truthful tale that painted her as a lovelorn, pitiable girl—omitting, of course, the details of their cohabitation.

"That’s why I chose to tell you about this."

"And how did you get my contact?"

"I... saw your number in Ye Feng’s phone once."

"My contact information..."

A faint warmth flickered in Li Mucheng’s chest. So Ye Feng did value her enough to keep her details close.

"But why do you think I’d help you? With your condition, aren’t you afraid I’ll just use you as a stepping stone?"

"I... know I can never win Ye Feng’s affection like this."

Shen Mengli’s voice was barely a whisper, her dull eyes brimming with resignation. Her lips trembled as if cursing the unfairness of the world, her frail body shaking with barely contained emotion.

"That’s why I thought of cooperation. Because there’s a bigger threat standing in our way."

"Shen Mengli, aren’t you overestimating yourself?"

Just as Shen Mengli was about to bring up Xie Yuyan, Li Mucheng cut her off sharply.

"Why should I cooperate with someone who has nothing to offer? You’re practically my rival. Why would I help you?"

"Straight to the point—as expected of someone as sharp as you. You’re right. A weakling like me is useless to you."

Shen Mengli lifted her head, her crimson eyes locking onto Li Mucheng’s. The two stared at each other in silence.

"But I do have leverage. Besides the two of us and the one who jumped the gun... isn’t there another contender in this race?"

"What are you implying? Are you threatening me?"

Li Mucheng’s voice turned icy, her surprise evident. She hadn’t expected Shen Mengli to know about Su Yuxin. How did someone on the fringes have such insight?

"Threaten you? I’m just looking for the right partner. As you said, you have no reason to work with me. But if Su Yuxin were to find out about this, wouldn’t she make her move?"

"......"

"Do you really think you’ll get the chance to tell her?"

Li Mucheng’s tone was frigid, like a blade of ice poised to pierce Shen Mengli’s heart.

"Miss Li, instead of wasting time with me, shouldn’t you be thinking about how to deal with the one who’s already ahead? If you don’t act soon... there’ll be a winner declared."

"Tch..."

Li Mucheng clicked her tongue in irritation. She hated being cornered, and Shen Mengli’s confidence—that she wouldn’t dare harm her—only made her more uncomfortable.

"Relax, Miss Li. I just want a sliver of what’s rightfully mine. Our end goals are the same, aren’t they?"

"Fine. If you’re so eager to cooperate, have it your way. Just don’t regret this decision later."

"Don’t worry, Miss Li. I know my place. I just can’t stand watching that woman hurt Ye Feng. When the final round comes... I’ll just be a spectator, unfit for the stage."

"At least you’re self-aware."

Li Mucheng scoffed, somewhat appeased by Shen Mengli’s humility. What could a disabled girl possibly do? If she wanted to be a pawn, so be it. Soon enough, she’d realize she was nothing more than a disposable piece.

"Then it’s settled. It’s an honor to stand on the same side as you, even temporarily."

Shen Mengli extended a hand in goodwill, but Li Mucheng crossed her arms, making no move to reciprocate.

"I just hope you’ll be of some use. Now, tell me everything about this ‘early bird.’"

"Gladly. I have plenty of information to share. But after talking for so long, shouldn’t we find a better place to discuss this?"

With a faint smile, Shen Mengli turned her wheelchair toward the livelier end of the street. Li Mucheng watched her retreating figure in silence before finally following.

In Li Mucheng’s eyes, Shen Mengli was just a pawn—a temporary ally to be discarded once the real threats were eliminated. Someone who laid all her cards on the table from the start was bound to be the first one out.

What she didn’t realize was that, on another chessboard, she herself was Shen Mengli’s pawn...