“Lin Zhou, are you out of your mind?!” At the bar’s booth, a glamorous woman in heavy makeup suddenly jumped to her feet, then quickly sat back down, realizing her outburst. She was full of charm, clearly in her twenties, yet dressed with a striking maturity. She was the bar’s owner and Lin Zhou’s high school classmate, Xie Wei.
“The apartment is yours, he’s the one who cheated, so why are you being thrown out? That bastard Lawyer Cheng should be the one kicked out!” Xie Wei lifted her glass in one gulp, then slammed the empty cup onto the table.
Lin Zhou leaned her head on her hand, slowly raising her own glass, staring through the glass at the city lights outside. How long had it been since she allowed herself to just zone out? “Disgusting.” Just thinking that the man she had shared a bed with for years had someone else made her feel sick.
She had left decisively, not even bothering to smash the wedding photos or do anything to vent her emotions. It wasn’t that she was attached; staying another second would have been unbearable.
“It’s disgusting! Men, none of them are good,” Xie Wei poured herself another drink, still fuming. “All these years you helped him bring in business, his pockets got fat, then he dumped you. And you’re just letting it go?”
Lawyer Cheng’s career had soared in recent years, earning recognition from his boss, even talks of partnership. His future looked limitless.
Yet he had no idea how much effort Lin Zhou had put in behind the scenes. And to preserve his fragile pride, she had never mentioned any of it.
“Xie Wei, I helped him willingly. You say I had no self-interest? I did. To keep our incomes balanced, to protect his pride, to make our positions equal, to avoid resentment. Bringing in business was also for our household, to secure a better future. I never expected him to see my work as worthless…” Lin Zhou took a deep breath. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but her nose tingled with emotion.
The past was the past. She didn’t want to argue over who was right or wrong. Though she had never betrayed Lawyer Cheng, his constant accusations had hurt. But she didn’t want to dwell on it anymore.
Looking back, she had devoted too much to work, which could be easily misunderstood. That wasn’t a reason to forgive him. These years had been stressful, and it was Lawyer Cheng who had often been there to comfort her during tough moments.
Her parents were in poor health, and with her busy schedule, Lawyer Cheng had even helped her return home to care for them.
Because of this, she had always believed Lawyer Cheng was the one she could grow old with.
Clearly, he wasn’t.
Rational as she was, even after being betrayed, she wouldn’t take revenge on his career.
As she said, the past was past. Perhaps it simply wasn’t meant to be. She wouldn’t make things difficult for him, repaying the years of his help. But from now on, she would no longer assist him.
“Part ways with respect, and may each of us find peace,” Lin Zhou said, taking another drink. Her head felt light, pleasantly dizzy. Being too good at handling alcohol wasn’t ideal; it didn’t make it easy to get drunk. “Go our separate ways, no interference. My world without him, his world without me, each living our own lives, in peace.”
Xie Wei knew Lin Zhou well. She was rational and calm, but sentimental. Xie Wei tried to comfort her, but Lin Zhou continued, “Today is Lawyer Cheng’s birthday. I took half a day off to surprise him… But if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have seen him kissing another woman. Would he have broken up with me less harshly? Six years of feelings, and he could say such things.”
Who said Lin Zhou wasn’t hurt? She was, her heart torn. But another part of her, strong and rational, told her it didn’t matter. Men were all the same. Rich men were unfaithful; poor men couldn’t afford to be. Essentially, it was the same.
All the stories of a devoted love that lasts a lifetime were just to trick young girls.
Tears slid down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. She was Lin Zhou. How could she cry? How dare she?
“Enough. Let’s not think about that bastard. I have a model here, top of her class at B University, who graduated last year. Tall, looks slim in clothes, fit under them, face like the type you like, similar to Lee Min-ho. She’s seen you before and is interested. You had a boyfriend, were busy with work, so I didn’t push you to meet new people,” Xie Wei said.
Lin Zhou rubbed her sore eyes and roughly removed her contact lenses, raising a hand to stop her. “Stop, I’m not interested.” Starting a new relationship wouldn’t heal the old wounds, at least not for her.
“This is a good opportunity. You need someone to take care of you. I, as a woman, can’t soothe your hurt heart. Men are different. Who knows, sparks might fly?” Xie Wei’s suggestion grew more outrageous. “A long night, a man and woman alone, first meeting… you might end up starting something. Imagine, if things went well in bed, maybe a new romance could begin.”
Lin Zhou felt dizzy. She poured herself another drink. “If that were true, how many romances would you have started by now? Stop with the stupid ideas and book me a hotel. I’m dizzy and don’t want to look at my phone.”
Xie Wei pouted but unwillingly booked the hotel. Her view of romance differed from Lin Zhou’s. Xie Wei sought excitement, Lin Zhou sought steady love. The result was obvious. Men weren’t worth much and could only be used for fun.
In the end, women always cried.
Even strong Lin Zhou would end up in tears.
She sighed internally, saying little.
Within minutes, the hotel was booked. “Hefeng Terry Hotel. Using your ID, you even get a 20% discount,” Xie Wei said with a click of her tongue. Thousands per night, but under Lin Zhou’s name, it cost less than a thousand.
“Thanks!” Lin Zhou felt her mind hazy. Too much alcohol had finally made her feel drunk. Her feet felt light, her body almost no longer her own. She smiled, satisfied that she had successfully drunk herself into oblivion. “Wei Wei, be a good friend and take me to the hotel.”
Xie Wei had never seen Lin Zhou drunk. Watching her drink herself under, she felt some pity but couldn’t stop her. Being drunk was good. At least it numbed her pain.
The 38th floor of the Terry Hotel held the most luxurious suites, all numbered with 8 as the last digit, from 3808 to 3898. Despite the many numbers, there were only ten suites.
This floor was quieter and more private than the others.
In Suite 3888, the living room, Gu Minxuan flipped through files on his crossed legs, brow slightly furrowed. “This Hefeng project has been on hold for a year. Now I have to restart it. What is Feng Hexu thinking?” His handsome eyes showed some displeasure. “Trying to assert dominance?”
“Hard to say,” Gu Minxuan’s assistant Wang Peng thought for a moment. “Gu Corporation has invested in Hefeng for years without interfering. Your sudden appointment might naturally upset Chairman Feng. Giving you a problem is inevitable.”
Gu Minxuan sneered. “Then our first battle at Hefeng will be a hard one.” After half a month of reviewing Hefeng’s affairs, he was a little tired. Not wanting to discuss work further, he asked, “What about the apartment? Hotels are fine, but living there long-term is stifling.” He preferred his own place; shared accommodations felt uncomfortable.
“It’s arranged near the company. You can move in tomorrow,” Wang Peng said, knowing Gu Minxuan well. He had organized all the materials and added, “I arranged someone for tonight, a top student from B University. If you’re satisfied, she can stay with you while you’re in B City.”
At 30, Gu Minxuan had never had a girlfriend, only companions. He believed only in physical compatibility. Love was childish fairy tales. Time spent on romance was better used solving work problems. Love was a waste of time, not for him.
He nodded. “I’ll take a shower. Send her up in half an hour.”