Ruan Jiaojiao ran out of the building, tears streaming down her face, but before she could take two steps, she collided with someone’s.
Without looking up, she attempted to push past, but strong arms enveloped her in a tight embrace.
“Jiaojiao, what’s wrong with you?” a soft yet commanding voice called from above.
She looked up and was met with Hortez’s concerned face. Momentarily stunned, she then threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Hortez had rushed to China after learning of Ruan Jiaojiao’s secret visit. Tracking her with a locator he had secretly installed on her phone, he followed her to this very moment. But upon finding her, he was horrified to see how badly she had been treated.
While he had often seen Jiaojiao face difficulties, never had it been as heart-wrenching as this. Her spirit seemed crushed, and he felt a surge of anger rising within him. If he hadn’t been holding her close, he wasn’t sure how he would have restrained himself from confronting whoever had hurt her.
As Ruan Jiaojiao continued to weep in Hortez’s embrace, her heart filled with humiliation and rage. She directed all her frustration toward Xie Youzhou.
It was her fault for assuming someone so closely tied to Lin Zhiyu could be good. How could she have thought otherwise? Her foolish attempt to resolve the misunderstanding had only led to her downfall. Birds of a feather flock together, and Xie Youzhou was no better than Lin Zhiyu—both had treated her with disdain.
The bitterness boiled within her. From that day forward, Xie Youzhou would be the one she despised the most. How could someone so rotten achieve such success? He deserved the harshest punishment life could offer, a way to restore balance in the world.
Overwhelmed by her emotions, Ruan Jiaojiao eventually cried herself to sleep in Hogs’ arms. When she woke, she found herself back in Country M.
Seeing her awake, Hortez held her tenderly. “Jiaojiao, tell me what happened in China.”
Recalling the events of just hours ago, tears welled up in Ruan Jiaojiao’s eyes once more. “Xie Youzhou… it’s Xie Youzhou…”
“What did he do?” Hortez’s voice turned steely.
“He… he humiliated me.” She buried her face in his chest, her sobs shaking her frame.
Despite Hortez’s careful questioning and comforting, Ruan Jiaojiao couldn’t bring herself to share the details of her humiliation. All he could sense was the deep hurt she had suffered. Anger bubbled within him, and Xie Youzhou swiftly climbed to the top of his revenge list.
Hortez knew that crying was a powerful tool; it painted a picture of vulnerability and injustice that stirred sympathy and anger in others. He understood that the past wrongs of Ruan Jiaojiao’s family had made her a target of disdain, leaving her completely ignored by those who should have supported her.
—
Meanwhile, Xie Youzhou was unaware of Ruan Jiaojiao’s return and the potential repercussions of her actions. Anticipating her revenge, he accelerated his plans and informed Lin Zhiyu when he picked him up later that night.
Lin Zhiyu almost dropped his laptop bag in shock. “Ruan Jiaojiao came to China today? And she came to see you?!”
Confusion washed over him. How could she have come looking for Xie Youzhou? They barely knew each other. Even in the original narrative, their paths had never crossed.
“What did she say to you? Why did she seek you out?”
Ruan Jiaojiao never acted without a purpose. As the original center of the world’s attention and a favorite of fortune, she had many motivations, especially when it came to connecting with men. In the story, almost every man she encountered had been drawn to her.
Suddenly, an uneasy feeling gripped Lin Zhiyu. It wasn’t just concern over potential chaos she could unleash; it was a sense of foreboding.
“Gege, don’t worry. Even if she does have a motive, she won’t succeed.”
Xie Youzhou turned on soft music in the car, lowering the volume to soothe his gege. “I checked her phone data from the past few days and saw she deliberately contacted Hua Yutang and searched for my company’s address. I suspect she approached me with an agenda, but I’m not sure what it is yet.”
Xie Youzhou couldn’t bring himself to entertain the thought that Ruan Jiaojiao was attempting to build a relationship with him. The very notion repulsed him, and his mind instinctively shut down that line of thinking.
“I suspect Ruan Jiaojiao knows I have a close relationship with you and that I protect you. Maybe she’s trying to sow discord between us.”
“Or perhaps it’s about Hua Yutang. After all, he’s done a lot for her. In his mind, Ruan Jiaojiao has always been kind, considerate, and selfless. Maybe she’s trying to mediate between you after hearing about your breakup?”
Xie Youzhou was deep in thought, but Lin Zhiyu’s frown remained, his expression dark and tense. Finally, Lin Zhiyu spoke, “Maybe she wants to trap you in a fish pond.”
“Chi—” The car screeched to a halt, tires screeching against the pavement.
Xie Youzhou’s face turned pale. “Gege, what are you thinking?!”
“I just mean it’s a possibility.”
Seeing the drastic change in Xie Youzhou’s demeanor made Lin Zhiyu want to rush to a temple to burn incense for good luck. He couldn’t help but relax his frown, realizing he was letting his imagination run wild.
What was he worried about? How could Xie Youzhou, of all people, be deceived by Ruan Jiaojiao and end up in her harem? It was absurd.
“I believe that you won’t be trapped by Ruan Jiaojiao…” Lin Zhiyu said, trying to reassure him.
“Of course!” Xie Youzhou retorted vehemently. “Not in this life or the next! There’s no way I’d ever have anything to do with that woman!”
“Okay, okay, I believe you won’t,” Lin Zhiyu replied quickly, a smile creeping onto his face. The weight pressing on his heart suddenly felt lighter.
His initial worry had been unfounded.
“Gege was just speculating. I’m not saying you will be… Just don’t get too worked up and drive safely.”
Lin Zhiyu watched the street scenery pass by as he said slowly, “No matter what Ruan Jiaojiao’s purpose is, we may still face the same situation—her family and her pursuers will be nothing to worry about.”
“Right.” Xie Youzhou nodded solemnly. “Do you remember when I told you I was already in the plan?”
Lin Zhiyu nodded, recalling their conversation.
“In ten days at most, those people will have no time to cause trouble,” Xie Youzhou said, pressing the accelerator lightly.
Lin Zhiyu frowned slightly. “Have Marceau and Wright started taking action?”
“They’ve been at it for a while now. I think it’s about time to close the net.”
—
Xie Youzhou’s instincts were correct. Just as Hortez was meticulously gathering information on Xie Youzhou to plot his downfall, the Hortez Group was suddenly embroiled in a series of explosive scandals.
As one of the leading capital consortiums in Country M, Hortez Chain Group had its hands in numerous industries, with d**g trade being the most lucrative. After the first state legalized drugs, the Hortez Group worked tirelessly to push for legislation in more states, aiming to expand the legality of drugs, including highly potent substances like methamphetamine.
And they succeeded—creating staggering profits in the process.
Despite the outcry from many citizens against drug legalization, protests have proven ineffective. In a capitalist society, capital often triumphed over public sentiment.
But now, the Hortez Group was facing a storm of backlash. Reports emerged revealing that the group was secretly selling d**gs in states where it remained illegal. They were even found to be peddling substances to minors, including junior high school students—a reprehensible act that sparked outrage.
As news spread, public outrage erupted throughout Country M. Citizens, especially those in states opposed to drug legalization, were furious.
Before the Hortez Group could mount a defense, more damning evidence surfaced. Reports of bribery involving executives and board members of the Hortez Group surfaced, detailing attempts to influence national legislators and governors to legalize drugs. Even more horrifying were allegations that these bribery schemes included horrendous acts, such as the exploitation of young children.
The internet in Country M exploded with fury. Citizens demanded accountability and severe punishment for the Hortez Group.
As their stock prices plummeted, Ruan Jiaojiao learned of the unfolding chaos and was left dumbfounded.
What was happening?
Why did everything around her feel so wrong?
It shouldn’t be like this—this wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
