Chapter 362: I want you
Her words struck directly at the truth he had been avoiding. Back then, when Hua Ling first joined the company, Zhang Ruo had warned him repeatedly. She had pointed out the risks, the manipulative tendencies, the way Hua Ling seemed to draw powerful investors while subtly isolating those around her. But Mao Li had dismissed those concerns. He had been captivated by Hua Ling’s rapid rise, her ability to generate headlines, and the influx of capital she brought with her.
Then Hua Jing’s accident happened.
Instead of investigating thoroughly, Mao Li had shifted all company resources toward Hua Ling. Promotions, endorsements, media exposure — everything had been handed over. Hua Jing, once the company’s brightest star, was quietly pushed aside. Zhang Ruo had tried to look into the circumstances surrounding the accident, but Mao Li had stopped her, insisting they focus on "the future."
"Did you ever think you’d stay at the top forever?" Zhang Ruo asked, her gaze steady. "This is karma, Mao Li."
He had no immediate retort. In truth, he remembered her warnings clearly. She had argued with him harshly back then, calling his decision reckless. But he had believed himself untouchable. Strategic. In control.
"You used to be different," Zhang Ruo added. "You were the one who saw Hua Jing’s potential when no one else did. You fought to bring her into this company. So how did you betray her so easily?"
The question lingered painfully in the air. Mao Li looked away, unable to answer. Greed, ambition, ego — none of those excuses sounded justifiable now.
After a long silence, Zhang Ruo stood up. "I warned you," she said softly. "You just didn’t listen."
When she left, Mao Li remained motionless. Slowly, he gathered the resignation letters and opened a cabinet. Inside were dozens more. Nearly half the company had already left in just a few days, uncertain whether Blue Entertainment could survive the mounting scandals tied to Hua Ling and the resurfacing of Hua Jing’s past.
He closed the cabinet door and walked unsteadily to the glass wall overlooking the city. Once, he had looked out from this height with pride. Now he felt only dread. The only thing he clung to was the desperate hope that the truth about Hua Jing’s accident would never surface.
Because if it did, everything would truly be over.
—
A week later, the storm had quieted. Public outrage had shifted to new topics, as it always did.
At Yellow Garden, however, the air felt different. Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, bringing an unusual sense of calm.
Sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows, washing the marble floors in a golden glow. The estate was peaceful in a way Hua Jing had never truly experienced before. For the first time in years, there was no immediate threat looming above her, no whispers behind her back, no invisible knives waiting in the dark.
Chen Li had been sentenced.
Her mother had received justice.
That alone filled Hua Jing’s heart with a sense of fulfillment she could not put into words. The heavy stone that had pressed against her chest for years finally felt lighter. It did not erase the past, nor did it undo the pain, but it was something. It was acknowledgment. It was accountability.
Fu Jing Rong had left early that morning for company matters, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before leaving. "Rest well," he had told her, his voice warm and steady. With him gone, Yellow Garden felt quieter, though not lonely.
Servants moved discreetly in the background, maintaining the estate with professional efficiency. Yet despite the comfort surrounding her, Hua Jing felt restless indoors. After finishing her tea, she stepped outside into the garden.
The sea of yellow flowers swayed gently in the breeze.
She walked toward the swing nestled beneath the flowering trees — the very swing where she had sat the first day she met Fu Jing Rong after waking from her coma. The memory rose vividly in her mind. The way he had rushed toward her. The way they had held each other. The way they had stumbled and fallen into the soft bed of yellow petals, laughing like two people who had survived a lifetime apart.
A small, unguarded smile curved her lips.
It had felt magical. Almost unreal.
She let the swing move gently beneath her, the chains creaking softly as her mind drifted through those tender memories. For once, there was no bitterness attached to her recollections — only warmth.
"Madam."
The soft voice startled her.
One of the servants stood respectfully a few steps behind her. "Someone is here to see you."
Hua Jing frowned slightly.
Very few people knew she was staying at Yellow Garden. She had intentionally kept her residence private. After everything that had happened, secrecy felt safer. So who could possibly know she was here?
"Who is it?" she asked.
"He did not give many details," the servant replied. "He says it is important."
Curiosity and caution rose simultaneously within her. Hua Jing stood from the swing and made her way back into the main hall.
Inside, a man stood waiting near the sitting area.
He was tall and well-dressed in a sharply tailored navy suit. His posture was relaxed yet refined, exuding quiet confidence. He appeared slightly older than her, perhaps in his late thirties or early forties. His features were striking — a blend of Western structure and Eastern softness — and when he smiled, there was a gentle warmth in his eyes that made him seem approachable.
The moment he saw Hua Jing, his face lit up.
"Hua Jing!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, stepping forward with his arms slightly open. "We finally meet! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!"
Before he could close the distance, Hua Jing instinctively stepped back. Her expression remained composed, but her eyes sharpened.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously.
The man paused mid-motion, immediately realizing he had overstepped. He let out a small, embarrassed laugh and withdrew his arms.
"Oh! Look at me," he said lightly. "Where are my manners? I’m terribly sorry if I startled you."
