Han Xu received the call at 10 p.m.
“Hello?”
“Is this Young Master Han? Something’s happened to Young Master Zhai. You’d better come quickly.”
When Han Xu rushed to the KTV private room, Zhai Yu was gripping a blond-haired man by the collar, punching him repeatedly in the face, each blow landing with a sickening thud.
His eyes were fierce. “Say what you just said again.”
“Young Master Zhai, what did I do to offend you?” the blond-haired man pleaded.
He hadn’t even said much before being dragged up and beaten senseless.
No one nearby dared to step in and break it up.
Han Xu stepped forward to stop Zhai Yu. “Brother Yu, let it go.”
Zhai Yu threw the man heavily to the floor.
“Repeat it,” he said, his tone icy. “What happened back then with the two Song sisters?”
The blond-haired man finally understood.
He hurriedly explained, “I—I only heard it from others. Many people in Yancheng know about this. The two Song sisters fought over the same man back then. The younger one, to marry into a wealthy family before her sister, seduced her own brother-in-law.”
“Her sister cut ties with her over it.”
“This story—we all know it. If you don’t believe me, ask them.”
As he spoke, the blond-haired man pointed at the people around them. A few nodded in the chaos.
One of them said, “Yao Wankun said it right in front of us. He claimed he slept with both Song sisters, especially that Song Ruannin. She dragged him to a hotel room just to marry him. If you don’t believe it, go ask him yourself.”
The man fell silent. Everyone in the private room took advantage of the chaos and slipped away.
Only Han Xu remained. He could feel the temperature in the room dropping to freezing.
He didn’t know what had happened, nor who the two Song sisters they mentioned were.
But he knew Yao Wankun—the youngest son of the Yao family, a spoiled playboy who had slept with countless women.
What was the relationship between these two Song sisters and Zhai Yu?
Zhai Yu stood there for a long time before suddenly sitting down and lighting a cigarette.
“Brother Yu,” Han Xu sat down beside him. “What they said might not be true. Should I have someone look into it?”
Zhai Yu replied coldly, “Forget it.”
He exhaled a puff of smoke and added, “No need.”
Han Xu looked at him. The man’s face remained dark, and the smell of alcohol clung to him.
He had never seen Zhai Yu like this before—the way he had beaten that man earlier was brutal.
Who was this Song Ruannin?
Song Ruannin contacted a real estate agent and, after two weeks of back-and-forth, finally sold the house.
The money from the sale would cover Song Zhirou’s hospital expenses for the next year.
A weight lifted from her heart.
Through a colleague’s recommendation, she rented a small apartment near the company—two bedrooms and a living room. It wasn’t large, but it was enough for her and Song Ziyan.
On Monday at work, Song Ruannin specially brought cake for Zhou Ying, the colleague who had helped her.
“Ruan Ning, you’re too kind,” Zhou Ying said, accepting the cake. “Thank you.”
Both worked as receptionists. Zhou Ying was young, with parents living locally. Working here was just a temporary step for her.
After wiping down the front desk, Song Ruannin sat with Zhou Ying.
Shen Yi ran an influencer company, so the place was always bustling with young influencers.
Zhou Ying finished her cake and looked at Song Ruannin.
“Sister Ruan Ning, why don’t you try becoming an influencer? The pay is good, and honestly, I think you’re prettier than some of our million-follower influencers here.”
Ruan Ning shook her head. “Everyone has their own path.”
Shen Yi had also tried to persuade her. She had thought about earning more money, but her identity was complicated. She feared exposure would invite gossip.
Besides, she had more important things to focus on now.
“Zhou Ying, keep an eye on things for me.”
Zhou Ying gave her an OK sign.
Ruan Ning secretly took out the Criminal Law textbook from her backpack and began memorizing it. She wanted to return to school and get to know the authorities in the legal profession.
She never believed her father was the kind of person who would embezzle or accept bribes. Back then, her father was on good terms with the Yao family, but after he was convicted, the Yaos kicked him while he was down.
The newly appointed mayor’s secretary was from the Yao family.
The Yao family was powerful and influential. Both she and her sister were young at the time, their voices too weak to be heard.
She wanted to clear her father’s name, if not for herself, then for Song Ziyan, so he wouldn’t be labeled as the child of a corrupt official.
After studying for a while, it was soon noon.
Today, Shen Yi came to the company.
Shen Yi was handsome and humorous, and as soon as he arrived, he was surrounded by everyone.
After dismissing the others, Shen Yi walked up to Song Ruannin and rubbed his nose awkwardly.
“Ruan Ning, a major shareholder is coming to the company today.”
Song Ruannin looked puzzled. “Do I need to receive them?”
Shen Yi shook his head. “It’s Zhai Yu.”
Song Ruannin froze.
Shen Yi felt extremely guilty. He didn’t want to put Ruan Ning in an awkward position, but for some reason, the Zhai Group had suddenly proposed investing in his small company. No one could resist the temptation of money.
At worst, he could just give Song Ruannin a raise.
“Understood.” Ruan Ning looked into Shen Yi’s eyes. “I’ll stay out of sight.”
Shen Yi was filled with gratitude.
Song Ruannin gathered her things and went to the farthest conference room.
The representatives from the Zhai Group arrived soon after. Shen Yi personally received them. After looking around for a while and not seeing Zhai Yu, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He sent a message to Ruan Ning: Ruan Ning, sorry for the trouble. Zhai Yu didn’t come. I overthought it—why would he come in person? You can come out now.
Song Ruannin: Okay.
She had just gathered her things and returned to the front desk when a familiar, tall figure stepped out of the elevator. Even with her head lowered, Song Ruannin caught the crisp, cool scent of sandalwood in the air.
She looked up and came face-to-face with Zhai Yu.
Zhai Yu frowned in displeasure, looking down at the woman from his superior height.
She wore light makeup and a professional pencil skirt that was too short.
Her delicate, slender figure was outlined for all to see, her hair neatly tied up, revealing her exquisite and beautiful features.
His presence was too overwhelming. Song Ruannin lowered her head.
She remembered—she remembered Zhai Yu telling her not to appear in front of him not long ago.
But this was her workplace. Could she really be blamed for this?
The air seemed to stop flowing, but the man’s scent grew stronger and stronger.
“Where’s Shen Yi?”
The man’s voice fell from above her head.
Song Ruannin didn’t answer directly. Instead, she called Shen Yi.
“Shen Yi, someone is here to see you.”
Shen Yi immediately came out of the conference room. Glancing at the two of them, he ushered the formidable Zhai Yu into the conference room.
In the meantime, he sent Ruan Ning a message saying she could leave work early.
It wasn’t until Ruan Ning went downstairs that she realized she had forgotten her employee badge, so she went back up to get it.
When she stepped into the elevator again, a pair of large, well-defined hands reached in, and the elevator doors slowly opened.
Seeing who it was, Song Ruannin held her breath.
Zhai Yu entered the elevator and stood beside her.
The cramped elevator was now filled with the man’s scent.
Song Ruannin felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“Song Ruannin.”
Hearing her name called, Song Ruannin instinctively responded with a soft “Hmm?”
This damned reflex.
Their eyes met. Zhai Yu’s expression was icy. “Didn’t I tell you not to appear in front of me?”
Song Ruannin frowned. “But this is where I work.”
“You shouldn’t appear anywhere.”
She snorted coldly. “Is Young Master Zhai asking me to resign?”
Zhai Yu remained silent.
She glared at the man with resentment. “Why?”
Zhai Yu looked down at her from his superior position. “Because I am now the largest shareholder of Yunmeng.”
“Are you getting revenge for what happened back then? For me threatening you?”
Zhai Yu remained silent, which was as good as an admission.
Almost instantly, Song Ruannin’s eyes welled up with tears, and a wave of bitterness washed over her.
“Have I ever done anything to wrong you, Zhai Yu?”
In her entire life, she had never wronged anyone as much as she had wronged Zhai Yu.
As she spoke, two clear tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why are you treating me like this?”
Zhai Yu sneered. “Then how do you want me to treat you? Like back then, holding your…”
Song Ruannin wiped away her tears, unwilling to hear his crude words or continue the conversation.
But the man stepped closer in an instant, gripping her wrist.
“What are you doing?” Song Ruannin asked, her eyes red.
“You… Mmm…”
An unexpected kiss descended, and Song Ruannin felt a suffocating illusion.