Chapter 347: She hated her more
The next morning, Hua Jing received a surprise message.
She was still deeply asleep, curled into the warm comfort of the blankets, her hair scattered across the pillow in loose waves. Ever since returning home, she had become lazier in the mornings, completely unbothered by the world outside while Fu Jingrong left early for meetings and work. His arm was loosely wrapped around her waist, holding her close even in sleep.
A sharp ding cut through the silence of the room.
Hua Jing frowned but didn’t move. Another ding followed, forcing her sleepy eyes open. She groggily fumbled for her phone, blinking away the haze of sleep. Her vision struggled to focus, but once she opened the notification, her breath paused slightly.
It was an email.
A very important one.
She tapped it open—and her drowsiness vanished even further.
It was an invitation from Indigo Beauty.
She stared at the bold logo for a long moment, then scrolled down slowly, almost suspicious that she was still half-dreaming. Indigo Beauty was one of the biggest beauty brands in the entire East, famous for luxury, prestige, and an impossible standard of elegance. Yet now, they were inviting her to their exclusive dinner gala happening in two days.
She blinked again.
Then again.
She hadn’t announced her comeback. She hadn’t signed anything new. She had been quietly living, resting, doing nothing except teasing Fu Jingrong and avoiding unnecessary chaos.
Yet here was Indigo Beauty, sending an invitation as if she had been waiting for it.
Before she could sit up, Fu Jingrong stirred beside her. Even fresh out of sleep, with messy hair and a faint crease from the pillow on his cheek, he looked unfairly handsome. He opened his eyes slightly, saw her fully awake, and frowned.
"What is it?" his voice was low and raspy.
Hua Jing stared at him blankly for a moment, distracted by how good he looked even when disoriented. Then she remembered the email and quickly handed him the phone.
He read it quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"What are you planning to do?" he asked.
Images of the previous night flashed in her memory—the fat businessman Zhou running after her, his disgusting stare, his vile attempt to touch her, and his furious shouting after she kicked him. Her expression cooled.
"I know this has something to do with him," she said.
Fu Jingrong’s brows lifted slightly. "Zhou?"
She nodded. "He was always knee-deep in beauty brands. That’s how he managed to become an executive in Blue Entertainment. Before my accident, I got a campaign that could be traced back to him too. Now I encounter him yesterday... and today I get this invitation? He thinks he’s clever."
Fu Jingrong watched her carefully. "So you won’t go?"
"I didn’t say that." Hua Jing exhaled lazily and tossed the phone back onto the nightstand. "But I’m not thinking about it right now."
Before he could reply, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him under the covers again. He looked slightly surprised, but she didn’t give him a chance to question anything. She wrapped her arms around him, dragging him close until the warmth of his body replaced the softness of the blanket.
"You’re not going to work yet," she muttered sleepily.
For a moment, Fu Jingrong simply stared at her... then he chuckled softly, his arms tightening around her waist. The sun climbed higher, the room warmed, and only the sounds of peaceful breathing lingered in the quiet bedroom.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, businessman Zhou sat on the edge of his bed with a sour expression. The bruise on his temple from Hua Jing’s kick had darkened overnight, swelling in an odd shape that made his already chubby face look even more ridiculous. Anyone with eyes would have had difficulty not laughing.
Hua Ling stood across from him, putting on her clothes with a stiff expression. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, especially seeing that swollen bump on his temple. After all, she had spent the entire night here, enduring everything solely because her hatred toward Hua Jing was stronger than her disgust.
She adjusted her blouse and asked calmly, "Has the invitation been sent to her?"
Businessman Zhou’s face twisted. "Yes. This is the last chance I’m giving you. At the party, you must make sure Hua Jing ends up in my bed. If not—"
He didn’t finish.
Hua Ling offered him a reassuring smile she didn’t feel. "How could I fail? I’m the one who wants this even more than you. Trust me. We’re working toward the same goal."
Her stomach churned with revulsion, but hatred was a fire that burned away everything else. She bent to pick up her skirt, unintentionally creating a posture that revealed just enough to make businessman Zhou’s eyes widen. He gulped loudly and grabbed her waist.
"You’re not leaving yet!"
Hua Ling closed her eyes.
She hated this man.
She hated his touch.
She hated the situation.
But she hated Hua Jing more.
And when hatred dominated, the rest no longer mattered.
Meanwhile, the online world was already boiling. Indigo Beauty had released their official poster for the annual dinner party, surprisingly choosing the capital as their venue this year—something that had never happened before. The event would take place in just two days, and fans went wild the moment the announcement dropped.
Various celebrities had already confirmed attendance, triggering endless discussions. Some fans were ecstatic, bragging about their idols being invited.
Others were throwing verbal punches, arguing that their favorite artist was the only one capable of embodying Indigo Beauty’s iconic elegance. Comments and countercomments flooded every platform.
@PeachyGlow: If Indigo Beauty wants REAL elegance, they must pick Su Yanyan! No one carries a red lip like her. End of discussion.
@MoonRabbit: LOL please. Yanyan is good but Qiao Fei invented the peach-toned goddess look. She’s the only one who can pull off Indigo’s signature color.
@Firefly_92: Indigo Beauty better not embarrass themselves. Li Rou is the ONLY choice. She’s been a walking beauty poster for YEARS.
@TeaSpiller: HAHAHA you Li Rou stans are delusional. The brand is going EAST this year, they want someone cold, aloof, luxurious. That’s Chen Yuxi in every frame.
@MintDrop: I don’t care who gets it as long as it’s NOT that clingy has-been, Hua Jing. She better not show up and ruin the atmosphere!
