Volume One, Chapter 13: What Else Could You Possibly Want?

Shen Zhao and Zhou Lin locked eyes, then her gaze briefly flicked to Ji Chao. Zhou Lin’s dark eyes surged as he stared intently at her. Ji Chao’s expression was cold and detached, utterly devoid of guilt.

Shen Zhao’s face remained expressionless, not a flicker of emotion as she said to the petrified Zhang Yunshu, “Let’s go.”

The two of them left the restaurant.

Zhang Yunshu’s expression was incredibly complex. “Your ex-boyfriend is the second young master Zhou?”

“Yes.”

“Ji Chao stole the second young master Zhou away from you???”

“Yes.” Shen Zhao paused, then curled her lips into a faint, teasing smile. “Weren’t you going to get back at him for me?”

“That guy’s really not someone you want to mess with, unless you don’t want to stay in the capital anymore.” Zhang Yunshu seemed to realize something and frowned unhappily. “Ji Chao is now the second young master’s girlfriend, so doesn’t that make her our Zhou family’s sister-in-law? She’s hooked up with the Zhou family now?”

That was far too petty a triumph.

Would they have to endure her attitude at the company from now on?

Shen Zhao didn’t think it was a good thing to get involved with the Zhou family.

Zhou Lin, Zhou’s mother, Zhou Huaixu — the people she had dealt with were each crazier than the last. Without the capital and background, if she really got entangled, whether she could escape unscathed was anyone’s guess.

Zhang Yunshu said, “Zhao Zhao, you used to date the second young master Zhou, so why have you lived such a miserable life? Look how clever Ji Chao is.”

Shen Zhao smiled. “If I told you I was only after Zhou Lin’s affection, not his money, would you think I’m stupid?”

“Maybe just a tiny bit.” Zhang Yunshu teased, “Why do you have to be so honest? Can’t you have both?”

Before Shen Zhao could reply, a sudden strong grip locked around her forearm from behind.

Zhou Lin had somehow come up beside her, his expression complicated as he looked at her.

Ji Chao stood nearby, her face indifferent.

Zhou Lin said, “Let’s talk.”

Shen Zhao replied, “There’s nothing to talk about.”

Zhou Lin tightened his grip on her arm, refusing to let go.

The two were at a stalemate. Zhang Yunshu glanced at Ji Chao, who showed a fleeting coldness on her face. Zhang Yunshu frowned.

In the silence, Shen Zhao was the first to speak calmly: “Zhou Lin, I’m no longer your girlfriend. Don’t touch me. And—” She flicked her eyes over to Ji Chao. “Your girlfriend would be heartbroken to see you like this.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Zhou Lin denied flatly, without a hint of embarrassment or panic, still staring fixedly at Shen Zhao.

***

Ji Chao’s eyes flickered.

Zhou Lin tried to drag Shen Zhao away, but she resisted, though she was powerless against his strength and was nearly pulled along. Zhou Lin bent over and scooped her up in his arms.

Shen Zhao, furious, slapped Zhou Lin’s face hard, mercilessly.

Zhou Lin, with a flushed red palm print on his face, kept his alluring, lotus-like eyes calm and showed not a trace of anger.

Zhang Yunshu hurried forward to help. “Second young master Zhou, forcibly taking someone away on the street is illegal. Please—”

Zhou Lin glanced at her. “Manager Zhang, after years of hard work to become the investment department manager at Huaze, do you want it all to be ruined now?”

Zhou Lin was a minor shareholder in Huaze, holding only 5% of shares, but he was also an executive director. Personnel changes were just a word from him.

Zhang Yunshu’s face turned extremely unpleasant.

“Shu, you should go back first. I’ll be fine, don’t worry,” Shen Zhao urged, not wanting Zhang Yunshu to be caught up in trouble because of her.

Zhang Yunshu looked guilty but watched uneasily as Zhou Lin carried Shen Zhao into the elevator. When she looked back, Ji Chao had already disappeared.

Zhou Lin took Shen Zhao to the Yun residence.

“I can pay off your grandmother’s medical expenses and all your debts,” Zhou Lin said as he put her down, his captivating eyes locking onto hers. “Shen Zhao, as long as you make up with me, I can give you even more.”

Shen Zhao was silent for a long while, then softly said, “So you’ve always known about my situation, but pretended not to, haven’t you?”

Zhou Lin’s lips tightened.

It was an admission.

Shen Zhao felt both sorrow and irony. “Zhou Lin, what exactly did you have in mind when you were dating me?”

Suddenly, she felt that during those three years, she had been nothing but a clown in Zhou Lin’s eyes.

Zhou Lin lowered his gaze to her, his roguish eyes unbelievably tender. “Of course, I like you.”

He raised his hand, large fingers caressing her face. Shen Zhao jerked back as if faced with a wild beast, wary and defensive.

Zhou Lin felt a pang of pain but kept his expression unchanged. “I’m not giving you a choice with these conditions; I’m just informing you. If you don’t accept, these offers become void. But you can’t escape.”

Shen Zhao felt utterly hopeless.

If Zhou Lin said he would do something, he would.

This man, whenever he wanted something, would stop at nothing—even destroying it himself rather than letting it slip away.

“I won’t accept your conditions. Zhou Lin, a cornered dog will even jump over walls. If you really want to force me, I’ll take you down with me.”

Shen Zhao’s threat was like a tickle to Zhou Lin—he didn’t take it seriously.

He calmly stepped closer, suddenly grabbed her collar, and yanked her down.

***

Her fair skin exposed to the air, Shen Zhao shuddered violently, trying to escape, but Zhou Lin’s thumb dug into her shoulder.

“I originally wanted to win you back slowly,” Zhou Lin said as his thumb stroked her smooth skin, gently kneading. “But you wouldn’t listen. You slept with that man once, I let it go. But you slept with him twice. Shen Zhao, you only have yourself to blame for being ungrateful.”

Shen Zhao trembled all over.

Her second time with Zhou Huaixu had been more than half a month ago. She hadn’t seen Zhou Lin during that time. How could he have known?

Ji Chao’s face flashed through her mind.

Her heart grew colder.

“I’m single now. Who I sleep with, how many times—it’s none of your business.”

Zhou Lin’s palm pressed harder, his eyes darkening with cruelty as he pinned her down. “Shen Zhao, are you cheap or not?”

With the dining table behind her, her waist pressed against its edge, she had no choice but to brace herself with her hands on the table.

“Zhou Lin, you call me cheap, but be honest—how many women have you tangled with during our three years together?”

“I never touched them,” Zhou Lin said.

“You touched Ji Chao.”

Zhou Lin fell silent.

Though a philanderer, Zhou Lin never denied his affairs or infidelities, but he would never let go of Shen Zhao for them.

“I’ve always been this way. You knew before we dated, didn’t you?” Zhou Lin’s expression was candid, without a trace of guilt. “Shen Zhao, I gave you the official girlfriend status, even the title of Mrs. Zhou. What more could you want?”

Shen Zhao didn’t respond.

She had long stopped hearing his words, dismissing them as nonsense.

Her hand on the table reached out, fingertips brushing something cold and metallic. Without hesitation, she grabbed a small knife and stabbed Zhou Lin’s hand.

Zhou Lin grunted softly, frowning deeply, but didn’t let go.

Blood welled from the wound, trickling down to stain Shen Zhao’s shoulder.

Zhou Lin’s other hand reached to seize the knife, but the blade suddenly turned, its tip pressed against Shen Zhao’s own neck.

“I can’t beat you,” she murmured, blood dripping from her slender neck.

Lowering her gaze, she whispered, “Zhou Lin, if this knife goes in, remember—it’s you who pushed me to my death.”