5 – Because of Him, She’s Trending for All the Wrong Reasons!
Outside, the banquet was already winding down.
Qin Zhiluo sensed trouble.
She’d been too busy flirting to remember why she’d come tonight.
Not good, not good.
Qiao Yun was definitely furious.
She wobbled out on her high heels, limping slightly, and spotted Qiao Yun in the crowd.
“Qin Zhiluo! Where the hell did you go?!”
The moment she emerged, she heard Qiao Yun’s deliberately lowered voice, barely containing her anger.
“I told you to come network with clients, but no—you disappear for ages.”
“Look at Sister A over there—she’s been strutting around all night like a peacock showing off her jewelry, charming the clients so much they don’t know which way is up!”
Qin Zhiluo braced herself and made a weak excuse: “I got lost just now. Took me forever to find my way back.”
Judging by the chafing marks on her feet, she really had been through the wringer.
Qiao Yun reached out to steady her, her tone softening slightly: “You’re hopeless. Can’t find your way, and you can’t even answer your phone?”
“I forgot, okay~” Qin Zhiluo seized the chance to loop her arm through Qiao Yun’s, speaking in a soft, coaxing voice: “I’m sorry, Sister Qiao~ The contract with Fuli isn’t signed yet. There’s still a chance.”
Qiao Yun grew anxious: “What chance? Take a look for yourself!”
On social media, Alison had posted nine perfectly edited photos from tonight’s event—stunningly beautiful, like a little princess straight out of a fairy tale.
She’d even specially tagged Fuli’s official account.
Fuli had played along too, liking the post below.
Given the way things were shaping up tonight, unless something unexpected happened, Fuli’s contract was almost certainly going to Alison.
Qiao Yun stared at her, worry mounting: “You know Alison’s always trying to crush you. If she lands Fuli too, you’ll have even less of a future at the company.”
Qin Zhiluo gave a wry smile: “As long as the contract isn’t signed, anything’s possible.”
Alison had snatched her resources plenty of times before.
It was about time she got a taste of having something taken from her.
Qiao Yun frowned. “What else can you do?”
“Win them over with sincerity!”
“Bullshit!!! I should never have trusted you.” Even at a time like this, she was still cracking jokes. Furious, Qiao Yun shook off her hand.
But this one had skin thick as a wall and was clingy as hell—she grabbed Qiao Yun’s arm again and pressed close.
Blinking playfully, she said: “Don’t worry, Sister Qiaoqiao. Just trust me one more time. Since we’re already here, help me take a few gorgeous photos.”
This was a classic case of the emperor not worrying while the eunuchs sweat bullets.
Whether she actually had a plan or was just resigned to letting things fall apart, Qiao Yun couldn’t tell.
Qiao Yun’s head ached a little, but she didn’t refuse the request.
“Fine, I’ll take the photos. But no posting on Weibo unless it’s a brand you’re actually collaborating with.”
Qin Zhiluo nodded obediently: “Got it. No sponsored deals, so I won’t help them promote.”
Qiao Yun said flatly: “No, I’m worried the brand will think you drag down their image, and I’m also worried Sister A’s fans will call you washed-up and desperate for attention. You’d get torn to shreds.”
Qin Zhiluo: Thanks a lot~
You really are my dear sister, always aiming straight for the heart.
That said, she had to admit—Qin Zhiluo looked absolutely stunning tonight.
The casual poses she struck were sexy and alluring, languid and effortless. Paired with her cool-toned, naturally flawless skin and a figure that turned heads, she was the spitting image of a little seductress.
The raw photos barely needed any retouching—just a slight color adjustment and they were ready to post.
When Qin Zhiluo got home, she hugged her phone and carefully picked through dozens of photos.
She really didn’t post on Weibo.
Instead, she chose two photos she thought were the sexiest and most flattering, and sent them to Zhuang He.
[Image]
[Image]
Qin Zhiluo: 【Brother, how about giving me a chance?】
She wasn’t asking him to play favorites and directly feed her resources—just at least give her a fair chance to compete with Alison, right?
After waiting for a long while, Zhuang Hezhi finally sent a slow “?”
Qin Zhiluo immediately cleared her throat, making her voice sound soft and sweet.
Just as she was about to call him in a coquettish tone, Zhuang Hezhi’s second message arrived.
【Only been apart for a few hours, and you’re already missing me?】
The message flashed by, and before Qin Zhiluo could read it carefully, the call had already connected.
She opened her mouth with a sugary voice: “I think I’m more suited for this collaboration with Fuli. I hope Brother will give me a chance…”
Zhuang Hezhi cut her off: “I’m driving. Also, I don’t like mixing personal life with work. No—”
With that, he hung up.
Qin Zhiluo: “…”
Meaning, as the head of Fuli, he wouldn’t give her this opportunity just because of their relationship?
Damn man!
Double standards!
If it weren’t for his approval, how could Fuli have partnered with Xinghui?
How could Alison have gotten Fuli’s crown jewel?
Alison could, but she couldn’t?
Qin Zhiluo felt inexplicably irritated, staring at Zhuang Hezhi’s profile picture.
No movement for a long time.
Only that teasing message remained, its few short words feeling especially mocking.
She tossed her phone aside and muttered a low curse: Damn it!
Overindulgence was exhausting, and before long, Qin Zhiluo fell asleep.
Her dreams were filled with Zhuang Hezhi’s low, magnetic voice, whispering seductive and sweet words of love.
Tender and captivating~
Even though he’d infuriated her, she still couldn’t help dreaming about him.
So annoying!
In her sleep, Qin Zhiluo turned the tables and bullied him mercilessly.
Night spread across the mountains.
The signal in the mountains was poor. The assistant looked for the thirteenth time at the man staring intently at his phone.
His gaze was full of longing, as if there was something irresistibly tantalizing in it.
“Boss, did you not eat enough tonight? Should I have someone get you some late-night snacks?” The man had been distracted all evening.
Zhuang Hezhi didn’t look up. “No need.”
The call had been cut off, and only after a moment did he see the photo she’d sent.
She was too alluring.
The wine-red dress hugged her curves, the neckline cut low, revealing delicate, fair collarbones. A sliver of snow-white skin showed at her waist, and her long, straight legs were slightly crossed as she smiled sweetly at the camera—like a freshly made, exquisite dessert.
He could feel her sweetness through the screen.
And yet he couldn’t taste her…
Wasn’t that just torture?
Zhuang Hezhi found an area with slightly better signal and called back, but the little sweet treat wouldn’t answer.
Was she upset?
Remembering that his assistant was past thirty with a young wife at home, perhaps he’d understand a young woman’s mind better.
Zhuang Hezhi narrowed his eyes slightly and raised a hand: “Come here. I have something to ask you.”
Zhang Heng learned that Zhuang Hezhi was thinking about that Miss Gardenia, and secretly rejoiced.
The ten-thousand-year-old iron tree had finally bloomed! Congratulations were in order!
He reminded Zhuang Hezhi: “If you don’t want her to misunderstand and think you don’t care about her… perhaps you could set aside the company and do something for her in your own name.”
In his own name…
Do what?
Given the nature of their relationship, it seemed inappropriate to be too obvious.
Zhuang Hezhi clutched his phone, lost in thought.
Early morning.
Qin Zhiluo was sleeping soundly when someone pulled her out of bed.
“What’s the matter? It’s still early…”
Lin Yue exclaimed, “You’re being dragged on the trending searches!!”
“What?”
“Sister Qiao can’t reach you, so she called me!”
Qin Zhiluo squinted, taking the phone from her hand, instantly wide awake.
“Qin the idiot, copycat, shameless!”
“Miss A was invited by the brand and attended the event with the store’s treasure, all above board. Qin the poor thing is irrelevant and loves to leech.”
“Miss A’s interaction with Fuli basically counts as an official announcement, right? Qin the idiot is shameless, leeching off Miss A’s fame.”
“Fuli goes for the high-end route, Miss A is the rich flower that fits best. Trashy goods stay away!!”
“Poor Miss A, how did she get stuck with Qin the nobody? Doesn’t her company do anything about it?”
Qin Zhiluo was completely baffled.
She hadn’t done anything at all.
The press releases about “Alison outshines” and “Qin Zhiluo the copycat” had all been posted in the middle of the night.
Taking advantage of the quiet hours, they’d already racked up over two hundred thousand reposts and likes, with the buzz staying at the top.
Most of it was people cursing her out.
Scrolling further down, she found where the problem originated.
Around one in the morning, someone had posted her photos on Weibo.
“zhi: The moonlight is just right, a fairy surfaces [Image] [Image] @Fuli Jewelry Official”
Two beautiful photos, with a background similar to Alison’s.
They looked oddly familiar.
They seemed… to be the two she’d sent to Zhuang Hezhi last night.
Sister Qiao was furious on the other end of the line.
“I told you not to post, but no, you had to make a burner account and tag Fuli. It was just an internal competition between you and Alison, but now you’ve taken the fight for resources right in front of the brand!”
Qin Zhiluo said weakly, “If I said that’s not my burner account, would you believe me?”
Who knew that Mr. Zhuang, outwardly proper and refined, would secretly do something like this behind the scenes?
And the caption was so melodramatic.
It was hard not to suspect she’d made a burner account herself.
Wanting both the glory and the moral high ground.
Qiao Yun: “Like hell I’d believe you! The photos are yours, the name is zhi, who else could it be?”
“You and Alison are openly fighting over resources, and before the deal is even confirmed, you’re already getting cursed out on trending searches. Clients hate seeing tactics like this the most…”
Qin Zhiluo’s heart tightened with nerves: “So what now? Is the brand demanding an apology?”
If so, she definitely wouldn’t let Zhuang Hezhi off the hook.
She’d beat him to death!