8 – The Most Bitter Jealousy is the Kind You Have No Right to Feel
Qin Zhiluo casually liked and reposted it.
The comment section was buzzing.
【Alison made such a big fuss, and it turns out it wasn’t her after all?】
【That’s why I say, don’t speak too soon about things that aren’t confirmed—you might end up eating your words.】
【I’m an insider, let me tell you—at the Fuli gala, A showed up wearing the store’s crown jewel, even more arrogant than the brand ambassador herself. The way she looked down her nose at everyone was just plain ugly.】
【I’m genuinely curious how she got her hands on the crown jewel?】
【She’s got a mysterious sugar daddy, that’s an open secret in the industry. Though nobody dares dig into who that person is.】
【This circle is such a mess. But I think Zhizi is more radiant and elegant than Sister A—she suits Fuli better.】
Mostly praise for Qin Zhiluo, with a side of passive-aggressive digs at Alison.
The earlier voices claiming “Alison outshines everyone” and “Qin Zhiluo is washed-up and desperate for attention” had vanished without a trace.
There were a few voices defending Alison, but they’d already been buried over a hundred comments deep.
“Ah! That damned bitch Qin Zhiluo—what tricks did she pull?”
Alison was fuming, her delicate features twisting in fury, her face green with rage.
She hurled everything on the table to the floor, leaving a complete mess.
“Are you all a bunch of idiots? How could something this big slip past you? You only found out after she’d already signed?”
The assistant and stylist beside her stood frozen in fear, not daring to move.
After she’d ranted for a good ten-plus minutes, the junior assistant finally spoke up weakly: “We didn’t expect those earrings she wore to sell out like crazy…”
Wasn’t it Sister A herself who bought that trending topic?
She’d wanted to drag Qin Zhiluo through the mud, but it backfired and ended up boosting her popularity instead.
By the time they’d noticed and tried to stop casual fans from buying, it was already too late.
The junior assistant didn’t dare say any of that out loud, shrinking into a corner like a turtle with her head tucked in.
“Smack!” Alison grabbed the last bottle of serum from the corner of the table and hurled it viciously at the assistant’s feet.
“So what if one product sold out? What’s so impressive about that?”
“Throw money at hiring internet trolls—keep dragging her through the mud until the brand doesn’t dare use her!”
The silence around her was deafening.
She slowly calmed down.
When she turned around, she saw someone standing at the door.
Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, expression cold and severe, a thin layer of anger brewing in his gaze.
“Uncle…” Alison opened her mouth, then remembered there were still people around.
She turned back and shot a sharp glare at the oblivious staff members.
“What are you all standing around for? Go!”
The crowd scattered like they’d been pardoned, filing out in a rush.
She had no idea how long Zhuang Hezhi had been standing there, or how much he’d heard.
Having her fiery side exposed, Alison couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.
Zhuang Hezhi strode in on his long legs, sat down on the sofa, and tapped his fingers against his knee.
No matter when she looked at him, Alison always felt a certain fear of her young uncle, never daring to meet his eyes directly.
If she softened up, maybe she could still squeeze out a bit of favor.
“Uncle~” Alison’s eyes reddened as she asked in a pitiful, aggrieved tone: “Why?”
Zhuang Hezhi had a pretty good idea what had sent her into such a rage.
He wasn’t in any hurry.
He leisurely lit a cigarette, brought it to his thin lips, and took a slow drag.
“Judging by merit alone, she genuinely suits this collaboration better than you do.”
“How is that possible? She only has a couple hundred thousand followers—what merit does she have?” Alison couldn’t contain her emotions and burst out shrilly.
But when she met Zhuang Hezhi’s cold, sharp eyes, she wilted and backed down.
Her young uncle had never been favored by the Old Master in his early years. He was cast abroad and cut off from all resources.
Later, he carved out his own path through sheer determination and returned to the Zhuang family with an iron fist, securing the position he now held.
He had a hard temperament and was not someone to be trifled with.
Had it not been for her father’s life-saving favor to Zhuang Hezhi, he would never have indulged her to this extent.
Unfortunately, even with Zhuang Hezhi’s help, the Old Master still refused to acknowledge her as an illegitimate granddaughter.
Alison couldn’t operate under the Zhuang family name, nor did she dare flaunt her real identity openly.
Noble families appeared glamorous on the surface, but in truth, they were cold and indifferent—nothing mattered more than vested interests and reputation.
If one wanted to shine in public, one had to endure in silence.
Alison bit her lower lip, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes. “Then what do I do? I’ve already made the announcement. It’s humiliating if I don’t land this business deal. How am I supposed to hold my head up at Star Radiance afterward?”
“You know how this circle kicks people when they’re down and fawns over those on top. I—”
Zhuang Hezhi gave her a faint look. “I told you before to stay in Rongcheng. You didn’t have to come out here and do any of this.”
She had insisted on coming to the capital, and not wanting to endure the hardships of being an actress, she’d chosen to become an influencer instead.
She thought she could wear pretty clothes every day and eat, drink, and play her way through life.
In reality, he was the one feeding her resources behind the scenes.
And on top of that, she didn’t even have the drive to make something of herself.
Alison wept pitifully, her voice choked with sobs. Zhuang Hezhi felt an inexplicable sense of disdain.
He waved her off.
“Forget it this time. I’ll find you a suitable opportunity in a few days.”
The message was clear.
She should let it go and stop making a fuss.
Alison found it strange—her young uncle usually never bothered with such matters.
Was he doing this now for the sake of Fuli’s development, or to protect Qin Zhiluo?
She glanced at him hesitantly.
There was a small patch of dark red on his Adam’s apple, the color somewhat settled, impossibly suggestive.
Someone must have sucked it!
Her young uncle had a lover outside?
This discovery startled Alison deeply.
She momentarily forgot her frustration over Qin Zhiluo and quickly asked, “What happened to your Adam’s apple?”
Did he have a girlfriend?
That wouldn’t do!
“Don’t ask about things that aren’t your business!” Zhuang Hezhi stubbed out his cigarette and unnaturally pulled his collar together.
The amorous mark couldn’t be fully concealed.
He gave up adjusting it and looked at Alison coolly.
“Your father is having surgery today. Come with me to see him.”
“Yes.”
Alison obediently agreed.
Then, she quietly pulled out her phone, typed up her discovery into a text message, and sent it off.
Her head bumped into a wall of flesh ahead, and she hastily put her phone away. “Sorry, Uncle. I won’t walk and use my phone again.”
Zhuang Hezhi stopped, and she dared not take another step forward.
“Break up with that boyfriend of yours as soon as possible.”
Alison: ?
“But we genuinely love each other. He treats me very well.”
Zhuang Hezhi furrowed his brow, his gaze darkening. “He’s not right for you. Continuing this relationship will do you no good.”
Alison bit her lower lip, her delicate makeup unable to hide the grievance on her face.
“You—you don’t understand him.”
Zhuang Hezhi: “You’ve been asking Zhang Heng for quite a few resources because of him lately?”
Alison: “No, it’s not his fault! Uncle, I just couldn’t bear to see his talent go unrecognized. I asked Assistant Zhang for those resources. It has nothing to do with him.”
“Don’t let it happen again.” Zhuang Hezhi said no more.
Alison obediently lowered her head, a faint bitterness rising in her throat, not daring to argue further.
But how did her little uncle know about her relationship with Zhang Xuanyu?
Someone must have ratted her out behind her back!
Zhang Heng was just a little assistant; he wouldn’t dare.
Then it must be that bitch Qin Zhiluo!
She definitely still harbors feelings for Zhang Xuanyu and refuses to give up!
Alison remained silent, her long lashes casting a shadow of gloom, her eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.
Let her have her moment of glory—it won’t last long!
Soon, paid trolls appeared online to smear Qin Zhiluo.
They went on and on about how she knowingly inserted herself as a third party, and how she was a has-been desperate for attention.
But these didn’t cause much of a stir,
nor did they affect the collaboration with Fuli.
The promotional shoot was scheduled for Friday.
Li En, as the person in charge, came to the set in person.
“The new product designer has a wildly imaginative vision, and Miss Qin’s portrayal of the quirky girl is so vivid—it’s like she stepped right out of a painting.”
It felt like a perfect fit.
Qiao Yun had just arrived and treated everyone to Starbucks, even buying some small cakes.
Now she stood beside Li En: “Our Zhizi has strong expressive ability. If there’s a suitable opportunity in the future, we can deepen our collaboration.”
Li En: “That’s only natural.”
He also wanted Qin Zhiluo to take a few shots in the sunset for a more aesthetic feel.
Qin Zhiluo thought it over and agreed.
Worried it might get too late, she wanted to send a message to let Zhuang Hezhi know.
But the moment she took out her phone, she saw a message he had sent not long ago.
【Sorry, something came up tonight. Let’s talk another time.】
Qin Zhiluo felt a bit down, somewhat unhappy.
She really hated it when plans were cancelled at the last minute.
But then she thought again—he was a busy man, surely with no shortage of social engagements.
She needed to know her place and not be too fussy.
So, she sent a cute “OK” emoji.
That evening, Qiao Yun organized a dinner, inviting the Fuli staff to join.
Tomorrow was the weekend, so everyone was more relaxed, and some might even head out for drinks afterward.
As for Zhuang Hezhi, his older brother Zhuang Hui’s surgery had hit a small complication…