Early the next morning, Miles received a WeChat message from Zeki.
Dongfeng District, XX Street, No. XXX.
Smiling to himself, Miles set out: "The final showdown is upon us. Let's see if the innocent white lotus or the undefeated green tea queen will come out on top!"
Before long, Miles arrived at the location.
His Mercedes E600, though not the epitome of luxury, was still an aspirational dream car for most.
Zeki stood at the corner in a floral dress, her hair in a casually tied ponytail that added a touch of lazy charm to her look. Her carefully crafted natural makeup made her seem like the quintessential girl-next-door.
Whether a green tea queen or a white lotus, winning over men took skill.
This was Zeki's expertise, entirely different from Ella's cold and commanding aura, and a refreshing change for Miles.
Miles, ever the gentleman, stepped out to open the passenger door for her, leaning in suggestively as he helped her with her seatbelt.
This act brought a shy smile to Zeki's face.
Not that she actually blushed; her innocence was merely an act, not genuine shyness.
Under the envious gazes of passersby, Zeki's vanity was immensely satisfied.
They soon reached the company building. Just as Zeki stepped out of the car, she encountered Ella, also arriving for work.
Before Miles could get out, he heard Ella's voice ring out, "Slut!"
In high heels and a fitted black suit that accentuated her figure, Ella's cold, commanding aura was undeniable, impossible to ignore.
Without hesitation, Ella stormed up to Zeki, raising her hand to slap her.
But Zeki, in a surprisingly swift move, dodged Ella's slap.
Instead, Ella's hand struck the side mirror of the car with a loud "smack!"
The sound was so intense that even Miles winced, wondering if her hand might be fractured.
"How dare you dodge, you little tramp?"
Ella's eyes welled with tears, either from rage or pain, as she prepared to slap again.
But Zeki caught her wrist, her tone cold as ice. "Ella, haven't you had enough? If you hadn't cheated first, would Miles ever have left you?"
Ella, unwilling to admit guilt, snapped back, "Lies! You filthy homewrecker, do you think seducing someone else's boyfriend is justified?"
Unfazed, Zeki retorted, "I told you yesterday—we're just friends. I stood up for him because I couldn't bear to see you treating him like that."
"Oh, friends? You two probably slept together long ago! You pretend to be pure, but you can't fool me. Even with your filthy reputation, Miles doesn't find you repulsive?"
It was the height of rush hour, and their argument had drawn quite the audience.
Smack!
Zeki slapped Ella across the face without hesitation.
As Ella raised her left hand to strike back, Zeki gripped it tightly, her voice cold and menacing. "Ella, don't push me. Do I need to expose your secrets to our colleagues?"
"You—"
Ella trembled with anger but froze, clearly terrified.
Zeki's audacity confirmed that she held something concrete, something Ella dreaded becoming public.
Sensing her fear, Zeki smirked and continued with unrestrained disdain. "You cheated with multiple rich kids at once behind your boyfriend's back. Did I lie?"
Ella's eyes flickered with panic, but she steeled herself, snarling, "That's slander! I'll sue you for defamation!"
"Defamation?"
Zeki pulled out her iPhone 24, gesturing toward the company's LED screen with a mocking smile. "Have you forgotten how you acted like a dog in the Hanjian Hotel? Should I play it here for the entire company to see?"
A few male onlookers lit up with interest.
"Oh, let's see it!"
"With her looks and body… imagine her on display. That'd be thrilling!"
Though Miles's feelings toward Ella had soured, hearing those comments made his scalp tingle with irritation.
Damn!
For a fleeting moment, Miles felt an urge to draw his gun and end this woman.
Others couldn't see it, but Ella had a clear view.
The photos and videos on Zeki's phone—one quick glance was all it took to recognize herself in them.
How on earth had Zeki managed to get hold of these?
Before Ella could even begin to wonder, Zeki calmly put her phone away and said, "For the sake of our past friendship, I'll let this go just this once. But from now on, stay away from Miles. Even if he won't repay you the six million, I'll cover it myself—just to keep him clear of someone as vile as you."
Her words sent a ripple of shock through the crowd.
What kind of devotion could drive a woman to pay off a man's debt, and six million at that?
If this wasn't love, then what was?
Even Miles, sitting in the car, couldn't help but look at Zeki with admiration.
This was a masterclass in the art of deception.
Had he not known the truth, he might have been genuinely moved by her words, perhaps even foolish enough to offer himself to her in gratitude.
At that moment, Ella was clearly out of her league.
The men around them watched, captivated, some even wishing they could trade twenty years of their life for a girlfriend like Zeki.
Ignoring the disheveled Ella, Zeki turned to the car with a soft smile. "I'm heading to work now. Don't worry; I won't let her trouble you again."
With a victor's stride, Zeki made her way toward the office under the admiring gazes of the crowd.
Ella, snapping out of her daze, shot a look of hatred at Zeki's back, stamped her foot in frustration, and fled.
Miles, who had witnessed the entire showdown, sat in silent reflection.
Impossible to defend against.
If not for his second chance at life, he'd be convinced that Zeki was an angel worth cherishing.
For a moment, an inexplicable sadness filled him.
Was there still such a thing as true love in this world?
But the sadness was fleeting. His focus shifted back to his mission.
Once the Ice Age arrived, all traces of human nature would be shredded, leaving only cruelty and primal hunger.
People would kill for a single pack of biscuits, even resort to cannibalism to survive.
And to avoid becoming prey, Miles knew he needed to gather every bit of strength he could.
With three days left until the global freeze, his villa renovations were nearly complete.
Now, he needed to make the final preparations.