Lin Miaoyan's gaze swept across the room, her delicate brows knitting together. "Where is Chairman Zhou?" she demanded.
This meeting was meant to be with Zhou Anshan, the esteemed chairman of Tai'an Pharmaceutical Group, to negotiate expert support for Qinghuang Group. Yet, to her dismay, it was Zhou Anshan's son, Zhou Hao, who had shown up instead.
"My father had an unexpected matter to attend to," Zhou Hao replied smoothly, a smile playing at his lips. "He's entrusted me with handling everything."
Lin Miaoyan's frown deepened. Zhou Hao's reputation in Zhonghai was notorious; a self-indulgent playboy, known for his wanton lifestyle. His unexpected appearance could only mean trouble.
"If Chairman Zhou won't be joining us, I'll be taking my leave," she said, turning sharply to go.
"Miaoyan, hold on," Zhou Hao called, lounging on the sofa with a nonchalant confidence. "I hear Qinghuang Group is on the brink of collapse. Word is spreading like wildfire: your upcoming product is causing severe side effects, and if you don't resolve this crisis, your company may face bankruptcy. Are you really willing to watch your years of hard work go up in smoke?"
Lin Miaoyan paused mid-step, her face paling. Zhou Hao's words had struck her Achilles' heel.
Qinghuang Group, her beauty company, had spent years perfecting a groundbreaking new product. But on the verge of its release, disaster struck: testers developed severe, stubborn freckles as a side effect. The scandal exploded into the public eye, putting the company in a perilous position.
This product had been Qinghuang Group's labor of love, a masterpiece forged over three grueling years with immense financial investment. If it failed, the company's reputation would be shattered—and ruin would be inevitable.
Desperate for a lifeline, she had sought help from numerous companies, only to be met with indifference. Only Tai'an Pharmaceutical had shown a willingness to assist.
If she walked away now, she would be severing Qinghuang Group's final thread of hope.
"What do you want in return, Zhou Hao?" she asked, halting her departure. For Qinghuang Group, for her future, she had to consider all options.
Zhou Hao's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Miaoyan, you must know how I feel about you. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I swore you would be mine. Divorce that good-for-nothing husband of yours and marry me, and I'll have my father assemble all our experts to help you."
He paused, then added, "And there's more. Tai'an Pharmaceutical is hosting a medical seminar in a few days, featuring Liu Yizhen, the legendary physician. If you agree to my terms, I'll even ask my father to have him resolve your company's crisis personally."
Lin Miaoyan fell silent.
Liu Yizhen was a luminary in the medical world, a healer revered both nationally and internationally. With his aid, the threat looming over Qinghuang Group could be vanquished.
"Miaoyan, time is running out," Zhou Hao continued, his voice soft but laced with cunning. "Are you really going to sacrifice your future for that useless husband?"
His taunt was deliberate.
He knew the weight of the burden Lin Miaoyan carried, the pressure from her family because of Su Luo. He was confident she was at her breaking point.
A storm of emotion flickered across her face. Finally, she bit her lip and declared, "Sorry, I refuse. My marriage isn't something to be bartered."
Three years ago, she had married Su Luo to silence her family, hoping to avoid becoming a pawn in their schemes. She had endured for three years, and she refused to let it end this way.
"Miaoyan, are you really sure about this?" Zhou Hao's smile turned cold. "Qinghuang Group is your life's work. Are you prepared to watch it crumble over a worthless man? And what about your family's future? You fought to build Qinghuang Group so that your side of the family could gain recognition in the Lin family genealogy. If you fail now, that dream will die. Can you really accept that?"
His words struck a painful chord.
Her branch of the Lin family was not part of the main lineage and lacked the honor of being recorded in the family genealogy. Without that recognition, they were like rootless wanderers, with no place even in the family's ancestral tomb.
Her grandfather had chased that recognition all his life, only to pass away in defeat. Her father, too, had failed. Now, the dream rested with her. Without Qinghuang Group, fulfilling her grandfather's and father's lifelong wish would be impossible.
The thought of their disappointment made her waver.
"Miaoyan, what matters more: your family's legacy or that useless husband?" Zhou Hao pressed, his voice needling her doubt.
"Can… can we negotiate another condition?" she whispered, biting her lip.
She would never agree to his demand.
Seeing her hesitation, Zhou Hao's eyes glinted with triumph. Rising from the sofa, he approached her, his gaze smoldering.
"If you won't divorce that deadbeat, then let's make a different deal," he said, his voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "Spend one night with me, and Tai'an Pharmaceutical will help you without question. How about it?" His hand lifted, moving toward her flawless, pale face.
"Who are you? Stop right there! This is a private suite—get out!" A stern, authoritative voice suddenly cut through the room.
Bang!
Before anyone could react, the door shattered into splinters, and a figure was thrown into the room, crashing against the wall and crumpling to the floor, unconscious and bleeding.
"Black Three!" Zhou Hao's face twisted in shock.
He had stationed his bodyguard outside to ensure no one would interrupt him. Black Three was a skilled fighter, capable of taking on a dozen men single-handedly. Yet now, he lay broken on the floor.
Before Zhou Hao could process what had happened, another figure stepped into the room, shards of wood crunching beneath his feet. Without a moment's hesitation, the newcomer threw a punch, sending Zhou Hao sprawling to the floor.
"Miaoyan, I'm here. Are you okay?" Su Luo's familiar smile lit up his face as he looked at her.
Lin Miaoyan stood frozen in shock. She could hardly believe what she was seeing: Su Luo, who she had never seen raise a hand in violence, had just appeared and taken Zhou Hao down with a single punch. Was this really the man she thought she knew?
Zhou Hao staggered to his feet, his face contorted with rage. Gone was the image of the dashing young heir; he was now a vision of unrestrained fury.
He had been struck—by the infamous good-for-nothing Su Luo! It was the ultimate humiliation.
"How dare you hit me?" Zhou Hao roared, his face flushed with anger. "I'll kill you! You're dead!"
He lunged at Su Luo, his hand raised to strike.
Smack!
Another slap rang out.
Zhou Hao froze, his face stinging. He hadn't even touched Su Luo, yet he had been struck again, and the pain burned hot.
"You… you dare hit me again?" he sputtered, his voice breaking. Rage overtook him, and he launched himself at Su Luo once more, intent on tearing him apart.
"What if I do?" Su Luo's eyes were as cold as ice.
He struck Zhou Hao again, the slap echoing loudly.
"I'll kill you!" Zhou Hao screamed, his face swelling rapidly, the shame and pain transforming his expression into one of madness.
As one of the top young elites in Zhonghai, he had never suffered such disgrace. Now, beaten by someone he considered beneath him, it was a humiliation he couldn't bear.