Chapter 346: I won’t fail...
Behind her, Businessman Zhou’s furious roar echoed down the hallway.
"You insolent thing! Do you think I’ll ever let you make a comeback in this industry? Over my dead body!"
His voice was so loud that several guests inside the nearby private rooms paused mid-conversation. The walls were thick, but his rage sliced through them like a knife. Chairs scraped. Doors opened as curious faces peeked out to see who dared cause a scene in such an exclusive restaurant.
Realizing far too late that he had lost control, Businessman Zhou froze. His expression stiffened, panic quickly cooling his temper. He straightened his clothes in a rush and scrambled to his feet.
"A-ah, my apologies, everyone. I—uh—dropped something, and... slipped. Please, continue with your meals."
But no matter how respectfully he bowed, he couldn’t erase the image of Hua Jing kicking him cleanly across the hallway.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Still, he forced a smile, hurried back to his private room, and shut the door behind him with a trembling hand.
Inside, the investor sitting on the sofa nearly dropped his glass when he saw Zhou’s disheveled state.
"What... happened to your face? And your clothes?"
Zhou pressed a hand over the red mark on his chin, forcing a chuckle that sounded painfully unnatural.
"I forgot to tie my laces and stepped on them. Fell face-first. Quite embarrassing."
The investor blinked. "...You must be careful. A fall at your age could break a hip."
"Yes, yes, of course."
They sat down, pretending nothing had happened. The atmosphere slowly recovered as the alcohol flowed, but humiliation burned beneath Zhou’s skin like acid.
What Zhou didn’t know... was that someone had witnessed everything.
Hua Ling.
She just happened to be leaving Mao Li’s private room and arrived in time to see Zhou’s humiliated retreat... and the hateful glare he shot in the direction Hua Jing had walked.
That look—dark, twisted, murderous—made Hua Ling’s heart tighten.
Just a few weeks ago, this man had wanted Hua Jing as his mistress. Hua Ling had schemed endlessly to push Hua Jing into his bed, believing that sacrificing her sister would guarantee her the Floral Beauty endorsement.
There was no need to play nice with Hua Jing anyway since she loathed her so when an opportunity arose for humiliation, Hua Ling took it with open arms.
She had tried every possible way to trap Hua Jing but all her avenues had failed. Someone was helping the other in the shadows, but who?
Hua Ling wondered.
But Hua Jing resisted. Hua Jing refused. Hua Jing ruined everything.
Now, however... something had changed.
The man no longer desired Hua Jing with lust.
He desired her from hate.
Knowing how Businessman Zhou worked, there was no way he was going to let Hua Jing off the hook.
This was good for Hua Ling as she did not want Hua Jing making a comeback in the industry!
Businessman Zhou’s methods were very inhumane and it was known in the industry not to say no to him as he would throw you out of the industry!
This was exactly what Hua Ling was banking on!
And that was even easier to manipulate.
Hua Ling’s fingers curled around her bag as a slow, cold calculation filled her eyes.
She waited until the investors finally left Zhou’s room. The door shut behind them, and the corridor grew quiet.
Zhou sat alone at the table, downing drink after drink, each swallow fueled by rage. His jaw clenched. His knuckles whitened. The humiliation replayed in his mind again and again.
That woman dared to kick me—me?
I’ll destroy her.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Hua Ling slipped inside as delicately as a cat.
Businessman Zhou lifted his head.
The moment his eyes landed on her, they turned icy, colder than the liquor burning down his throat.
This woman.
This useless woman!
He had given her a chance to deliver Hua Jing straight into his hands.
She failed.
And because of her failure, he suffered public humiliation.
"Hua Ling," he said, voice low and dangerous. "You’ve grown bold to show up here."
Hua Ling kept her smile small and controlled—perfectly crafted.
"President Zhou, I came because I know you’re upset."
"Upset?" Zhou slammed his glass down. "Do you have any idea what that girl cost me tonight? And you—what use are you if you can’t manage something so simple?"
Hua Ling lowered her head respectfully.
"I came," she whispered, "because I can help you get revenge."
Zhou paused.
Slowly... his eyes narrowed.
Hua Ling looked up, the faint smile on her lips turning venomous.
"You hate her now, don’t you? Good. Because I have a way to make Hua Jing crawl to you on her knees... begging."
Zhou’s grip tightened on the glass.
For the first time since the humiliation, something other than fury sparked in his gaze—interest.
He could see the hate brewing inside His Ling’s eyes and this only meant that the earlier charade of how much she loved Hua Jing was fake.
These two sisters hated each other!
He pretended not to understand her gaze.
"And why," he asked coldly, "should I trust you again?"
Hua Ling stepped closer, letting him see the determination in her eyes.
"Because," she said clearly, "this time, I hate her more than you do."
Businessman Zhou chuckled, indeed
Silence thickened.
Zhou leaned back slowly, studying her.
Maybe... maybe this woman wasn’t entirely useless after all.
Hua Ling continued, voice firm and certain.
"Give me one more chance. I’ll deliver Hua Jing to you in a way she can never escape. In a way that will ruin her forever."
A dark smirk crossed Zhou’s lips.
"...Very well. If you fail again, Hua Ling, you’ll join her in destruction."
Hua Ling’s smile didn’t waver.
She quickly walked to the other side and started massaging his shoulders. A pitiful look engulfed her face as she looked at the wound on his chin.
He smiles wickedly as his hands roamed around her body. She stiffened a little then quickly opened up as she smiled towards him,
"I won’t fail."
