Liu Weiwei had been swamped lately. Song Yingfei had piled on more work, tasking her with managing the operations department and spearheading a collaboration with Tianhua Group. The project's first phase required both companies to pool over ten billion in funds, and with both sides taking a hands-off approach, all the pressure landed squarely on Weiwei's shoulders.
Yingfei trusted her, as did Xu Miaoli, making Weiwei the linchpin between the two corporate giants.
Busy work meant capable people carried the load, right? Weiwei's meteoric rise at Tianding wasn't just due to her talent but also Yingfei's admiration. Like romantic chemistry, their bond was a matter of fate, one Weiwei cherished deeply. So, seeing Yingfei grow increasingly weary and gaunt gnawed at her. It didn't sit right.
Since that incident, Yingfei had moved in with her. Their days passed quietly—work, home, repeat. If Weiwei hadn't lived through it herself, she'd doubt it ever happened. How could Yingfei act so normal, showing no trace of grief or resentment?
It wasn't right.
Stepping into Yingfei's office, Weiwei saw her poised figure hunched over a wide desk, scribbling with a fountain pen. Thinner now, Yingfei exuded an even more refined elegance, a grace born from her elite upbringing—impossible to fake.
"Weiwei, sit. Let me finish signing this," Yingfei said without looking up, recognizing her by her footsteps. Only Weiwei could enter her office without the secretary's clearance, so Yingfei wasn't surprised.
Weiwei sat, studying her friend. As one of the capital's four beauties, Yingfei had a mesmerizing charm. Her pride, though sometimes off-putting, was justified by her lineage. But Weiwei knew beneath that cool exterior lay a fragile heart.
Since that humiliating ordeal, Yingfei had buried herself in work to escape its shadow, exhausting her secretaries in the process. Love seemed to terrify her now. Her smiles were surface-level, masking the quiet pain she nursed in private.
To Weiwei, Yingfei was a pitiable figure, crushed under the weight of her family's expectations.
Yingfei closed the file, tossed it onto the approved pile for the secretary to handle, and stretched, her lithe frame curving gracefully. With a relaxed smile, she asked, "Weiwei, what's up?"
Weiwei searched her face for any hint of the hurt she carried, but found none. Yingfei hid it better than anyone.
"You've pulled three all-nighters," Weiwei said. "Your body can't keep up. Let's leave early today, hit the supermarket, and make some soup at home. Sound good?"
Expecting a refusal, Weiwei was surprised when Yingfei smiled. "You're right—I forgot how tired I am. Okay, let's head out early."
Just then, the door opened, and the secretary stepped in. "Chairwoman, Mr. Lin is here. He's holding a huge bouquet of roses and wants to see you."
Yingfei's brow furrowed. Just yesterday, Grandpa had called about this, and now this Lin公子 was making his move. She was fed up. After last year's scandal, she'd endured a failed engagement with the Yang family from the south. She had no interest in a repeat.
As a scion of a great family, some choices weren't hers to make. Now, the Lin family—and Lin Zhouwei, a man she despised—was in the picture.
"Let him in," Yingfei said with a slight nod. In the past, she'd have complied with Grandpa's wishes, however reluctantly. Now, she felt like a broken vessel, indifferent to his opinions. She wanted no ties to any man.
"Since you have personal business, I'll step out," Weiwei said, leaving the office. Near the door, she passed a polished young man in gold-rimmed glasses, led by the secretary, carrying a flamboyant bundle of roses that turned heads.
The roses blazed red, but to Weiwei, they paled against the eleven roses in her office. Honestly, this man didn't hold a candle to Lei Zhengyang.
Still, it wasn't her place to comment. Work matters were up for discussion, but Yingfei's personal life was her own to navigate.
This Mr. Lin was Lin Zhouwei—the same Lei Zhengyang had thrashed at the Yaochi Club.
The capital's four beauties—Lei's Xu Luoyan, Song's Yingfei, Ye's Qingcheng, and the military's Hua Yunyue—were legends. Yingfei, the most accessible, had been thrust into the spotlight by last year's scandal. Xu Luoyan was a phantom, no longer in the capital. Ye Qingcheng, the youngest, was fiercely guarded by her family, untouchable for years. Hua Yunyue, shrouded in secrecy, was a rose with thorns few dared approach.
When the Lei-Song feud was revealed as a misunderstanding, Yingfei's pristine image was restored, reigniting a frenzy of suitors, just like a year ago.
Lin Zhouwei had seized the advantage, backed by the Song family's approval. Whether he could win her heart depended on his skill. So, here he was.
To him, wooing a woman was simple: shower her with gifts and sweet words, and she'd fall into his arms.
"Lin少爷, a rare visitor," Yingfei said, her faint smile laced with frost. "What brings you to Tianding with such a lovely bouquet? Taken with one of our beauties?" Her tone was light, but far from welcoming.
Lin Zhouwei stepped forward, his voice bold. "Yingfei, we've known each other for years—practically childhood sweethearts. I've always admired you. Today, I've mustered the courage to confess my feelings. Please, accept these roses."
"Confess your feelings?" Yingfei tilted her head. "What, proposing marriage?"
Lin's heart leaped. This woman gets it!
Marrying such a stunning beauty, even as a trophy, would be a coup. Plus, aligning with the Song family would skyrocket the Lin family's influence. His standing with Grandpa Lin would soar, maybe even positioning him as the next family head.
"If Yingfei would grant my audacious wish, I'd be overjoyed," he said. "Believe me, I'd give up everything for you, never sparing another woman a glance."
"How flattering to have your devotion," Yingfei replied, her tone dripping with mockery. "Here I thought a fallen woman like me would never marry. Since you don't mind, how about we get engaged next month?" Her fingers brushed the rose petals, her face feigning eagerness.
Fallen woman? Lin's stomach churned. Wasn't it just a misunderstanding? The idea of marrying a woman already "tainted"—especially by his hated rival, Lei Zhengyang—was unthinkable. A public cuckold? No way.
He laughed awkwardly, dodging the topic. "Yingfei, that was just a silly rumor. I've always believed you're pure as jade, the most immaculate woman in the world."
"A rumor?" Yingfei's eyes narrowed. "It was no rumor. Why else would the Song and Lei families feud for a year? The clarification was just to save my reputation. If I marry into the Lin family, you'd need to help me seek justice. The beast who defiled me must face the law, or I'll never rest."
Lin broke into a cold sweat, panic rising. She'd really been violated? He'd been chasing a "used" woman with roses? Was he out of his mind?
"Absolutely, we can't let that scum off," he stammered, backpedaling. "I'll help you, Yingfei. Gotta run—let's grab dinner later!" He fled, her goddess-like image crumbling in his mind. She was fine for a fling, but as a wife? Never.
Watching Lin Zhouwei scurry away, Yingfei sneered, shoving the roses into the trash. "Hypocrite," she spat.
She'd deliberately sullied her own image to shake off these suitors. To these beautiful women were prey. Let Lin spread the word—maybe then she'd be left alone.
As for her so-called reputation, Yingfei didn't care. She'd already endured its loss during last year's scandal. It hardly mattered now.