Chapter 71 – Auntie, I Don’t Want to Try Anymore (Arc End)

Sure enough, Qiao Ruo still made a move on his ex-girlfriend! He just knew Qiao Ruo had bad intentions toward her! Watching Guo Zao utterly entranced by Yu Liuxue, Qin Feng nearly died on the spot from sheer rage. He wanted to rush over and loudly confront Yu Liuxue, but then he remembered this was his birthday party—causing a scene would only make him lose face. So he swallowed it down, a breath caught in his throat, feeling utterly miserable.

No matter what, he couldn’t let anyone find out that his ex-girlfriend had fallen for his ex-ex-girlfriend.

Otherwise, people would start suspecting he had some kind of hidden… issue. That he was lacking in that department. Or worse—Qin Feng, a man, might not even measure up to a woman like Yu Liuxue.

So he pretended like he’d heard and seen nothing and just left the way he came.

As he left, anger boiled inside him. He made up his mind that once all the guests had left, he would confront Yu Liuxue directly and get to the bottom of this. Sure, he had cheated first, but that didn’t mean she had to harbor thoughts about both his mother and his girlfriend. It’s not like she was going to be serious with either of them anyway.

Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, whatever else she wanted, she should just spell it out. Qin Feng would give her everything and be done with it.

After hearing the heroine’s cheesy love confession, Yu Liuxue forced a stiff smile. She glanced cautiously at Liu Qingru’s expression, then cleared her throat and seriously changed the subject: “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Liang Yin’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she brushed past Guo Zao. Guo Zao quickly hid the disappointment in her eyes and perked up to follow beside Yu Liuxue. Her voice was now soft and gentle, soothing to hear, and she seemed unusually tender and delicate. But in Liang Yin’s eyes, it was all an act—a sly vixen’s affectation.

Had she used this same act to seduce her son before?

Yu Liuxue was struggling to bear the attention of a beauty. Liu Qingru hadn’t said anything, but the aura around her seemed to drop lower and lower. Guo Zao, oblivious, kept talking beside Yu Liuxue, eager to share her recent thoughts and feelings.

It wasn’t until Liu Qingru shot her a glance that Guo Zao belatedly realized her behavior was inappropriate. She quickly smiled at Liu Qingru and then quietly put some distance between them.

Liang Yin saw it all and instantly felt her heart seize up again. Liu Qingru’s icy stare worked like a charm—so why didn’t hers? Not only did it not work, but Guo Zao’s fake sweet smile practically gave her a liver ache. The more Liang Yin thought about it, the more her head began to throb.

Guo Zao noticed her frown and quickly stepped closer, asking with concern, “Director Liang, are you feeling unwell?”

Liang Yin wanted nothing more than to avoid her. “No,” she said coolly.

With that, she assumed her boss-like demeanor and led Liu Qingru and Yu Liuxue inside, then sat down opposite Liu Qingru and stayed put. Though Liang Yin had feelings for Yu Liuxue, she didn’t show them, and Liu Qingru didn’t act distant because of it. The two of them had endless things to talk about.

Yu Liuxue sat listening for a few minutes but quickly grew uncomfortable. As soon as she shifted in her seat, Guo Zao seized the opportunity and asked, “Ruo Ruo, want me to take a walk with you?”

Her eyes sparkled, like they held an entire galaxy, filled with hope. Yu Liuxue hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”

She turned back to Liu Qingru and said, “Director Liu, I’ll go chat with her for a bit.”

Liu Qingru couldn’t stop her and simply gave a light nod. Liang Yin, massaging her temples, glanced at Guo Zao’s beaming face and felt increasingly irritated. Guo Zao noticed and gave her another smile.

That did it—Liang Yin was seething. She turned her gaze away, not wanting to see any more.

Playing dumb, acting shameless—that was exactly the kind of person Guo Zao was. Liang Yin had seen countless people before but never realized Guo Zao could be this brazen. She was just like one of those stray dogs abandoned on the street, pathetically clinging to someone once she picked a target.

Yu Liuxue felt she should clarify things with the heroine, but when she saw the sparkle in her eyes, she suddenly couldn’t say anything. So she shifted to small talk instead. “How have you been lately?”

Guo Zao smiled softly and nodded. “Good… and not so good. The best part is that my dad’s business finally got a break. But Director Liang keeps picking on me for it, using work excuses to bully me.”

“But I’m used to it now,” Guo Zao said breezily. “Did you see earlier, Ruo Ruo? Every time I smile at Director Liang, she looks like she wants to kill me.”

Yu Liuxue suddenly felt that something was off between Guo Zao and Liang Yin. Her eyes widened slightly. No way…

Could it be…?

Yu Liuxue’s expression confused Guo Zao. She looked around uncertainly, then asked nervously, “Ruo Ruo, is there something weird behind me?”

She tried to move closer, but Yu Liuxue stepped back and quickly said, “No, nothing.”

Guo Zao saw her reaction and tried to hide her disappointment, forcing a smile. “Ruo Ruo, am I really that unlikeable?”

“How could you be?” Yu Liuxue was just about to comfort her when Qin Feng suddenly appeared from the side. His face was dark, and he stared straight at Yu Liuxue, striding over. Guo Zao instinctively stood in front of Yu Liuxue, frowning. “Qin Feng, what do you want?”

Seeing his ex-girlfriend protect Yu Liuxue like that made Qin Feng grit his teeth. He reached out to push Guo Zao aside, but she stood her ground with fierce determination. He suddenly found himself recalling their first meeting—how he was sitting in a restaurant waiting for Qiao Ruo when Guo Zao showed up instead, cheeks flushed, unable to meet his eyes, handing him a bouquet of roses before running off.

He had never met such an adorable girl.

He’d fallen for her at first sight and vowed to win her heart, make her his girlfriend—his wife. Remembering all this, Qin Feng suddenly felt a pang of regret. Why had he gotten so petty, doing all those things to upset her?

The anger in his eyes faded. He looked at Guo Zao and quietly said, “Xiao Zao, back when you gave me those flowers, you—”

Before he could finish, Guo Zao interrupted, “Qin Feng, I’ve been meaning to tell you. Actually, those roses weren’t from me. They were from Ruo Ruo.”

She glanced at Yu Liuxue, who was quietly watching, then continued, “That day, Ruo Ruo had something come up and asked me to deliver the flowers to you. But I was so flustered that I forgot to relay her message. I’m sorry—it caused a huge misunderstanding.”

Qin Feng: “???”

So… it was all a misunderstanding? A complete one-sided fantasy? He turned to look at Yu Liuxue, just in time to see the sadness on her face. His heart churned with mixed emotions. He suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Could it be that Qiao Ruo had truly liked him all along? And he had been too much of a jerk, breaking her heart, pushing her into this revenge?

Qin Feng opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word. After a long silence, he rasped, “Qiao Ruo, now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, what else do you want? I’ll give it to you.” He paused, then gritted his teeth. “Just stop seducing my mom.”

He could understand if she went after Guo Zao, but even his own mom? That was too much!

Yu Liuxue blinked innocently and hid behind Guo Zao. “Qin Feng, what are you talking about? I don’t quite get it.”

All Qin Feng’s guilt instantly vanished. What was he thinking earlier, believing Qiao Ruo could be a decent person? She was clearly a vicious, scheming witch. He snorted coldly. Whether she truly didn’t understand or was just pretending, he left her with a warning: “If I ever find out you’re seducing my mom again, I won’t let you off!”

With that, he didn’t dare meet Guo Zao’s eyes. Never in his dreams had he imagined that everything between him and his ex-girlfriend had started with a misunderstanding—and all his recent actions were just his own wishful thinking. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if Qiao Ruo was the worse person, or if Guo Zao was just heartless.

Maybe it was both.

He couldn’t understand why he always ended up falling for heartless women.

That secretary who’d been so eager to get a marriage certificate with him quickly gave up after he became a bartender. She climbed into the bed of another rich man instead—rumor had it she became his mistress, only to be caught and beaten up by the man’s legal wife.

Qin Feng suddenly felt like his life had been a total failure—an utter disaster.

He had lost his only chance to mend family ties. He had nothing left. All he wanted now was to hide in some place where no one knew him and spend the rest of his life in peace.

After Qin Feng left, Guo Zao looked back anxiously. “Ruoruo, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Yu Liuxue replied. Right now, the one who wasn’t okay was the male lead. He had taken a serious emotional hit, to the point where even Yu Liuxue was starting to worry about him. But the female lead was a total wild card. She hadn’t expected her to stand up for her in front of Qin Feng, to speak on her behalf, or even to expose that old misunderstanding and land Qin Feng the final blow.

Seeing that Yu Liuxue was unharmed, Guo Zao finally relaxed. She looked seriously into Yu Liuxue’s eyes. “Ruoruo, will we be seeing each other often from now on?”

Yu Liuxue hesitated for a moment before replying, “I think so.”

Guo Zao immediately broke into a smile. “Don’t worry, Ruoruo. I won’t cause you any trouble. I’ll quietly protect you from behind. I’ll work hard to grow stronger, become your support, and never let anyone bully you.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?”

You’re the female lead—why do you sound like a willing backup who knows she’s being used?

“System, I’m getting more and more confused by this world.”

Liu Qingru couldn’t bear to let Yu Liuxue be alone with any woman, even if that woman was Guo Zao. So, before long, both Liu Qingru and Liang Yin arrived. When Liu Qingru saw that Yu Liuxue was neat and presentable, she finally felt at ease. Yu Liuxue, however, felt helpless—she had absolutely no credibility left in Liu Qingru’s eyes and was filled with despair.

Guo Zao had already spent plenty of time with Yu Liuxue and was quite satisfied. She quickly reverted to her usual composed and capable self, the perfect leader of the company. Her smile and every subtle expression were carefully crafted—flawless and beyond reproach.

Though Liang Yin was pleased with Guo Zao’s behavior, she couldn’t help feeling irritated and uneasy every time she saw her.

Yet Guo Zao remained blissfully unaware, her smile impeccably measured, her posture upright and elegant. Whenever she stood next to Liang Yin, people would praise her as Liang Yin’s greatest protégé. Some complimented her poise, some her work ethic, and many praised her luck in meeting a mentor like Liang Yin.

That “mentor” looked at Guo Zao’s smile and felt a looming heart attack.

Yu Liuxue clung to Liu Qingru like a human pendant, arms wrapped around her neck. Liu Qingru’s gaze shifted ever so slightly, and Yu Liuxue immediately caught on. “President Liu, I swear, I didn’t do anything.”

“I was just chatting with Guo Zao for a bit, then Qin Feng showed up, and the three of us talked for a while.”

Naturally, Liu Qingru didn’t believe a word of it. Her little girlfriend had zero credibility. But to bystanders, the two of them looked like an affectionate, newlywed couple—so close that they couldn’t bear to be apart even in public.

“President Liu is lucky to have found a wife so late in life—no wonder she treasures her so much.”

Yu Liuxue held her breath but perked up her ears. Late… late in life? Who? Who just called President Liu old? Just as she stretched her neck to peek, Liu Qingru’s gaze followed. She leaned close to Yu Liuxue’s ear and whispered, “You think I’m old too?”

“I don’t!” Yu Liuxue blurted without thinking. How could I possibly think that? You’re amazing at night—way more energetic than the young ones.

Clearly, Liu Qingru saw right through her thoughts. She curled her lips slightly. “So, you don’t like it?”

Yu Liuxue was at a loss for words, shyly mumbling, “President Liu…”

She managed to brush it off. Liu Qingru didn’t pursue it further and let her off the hook, clearly in a good mood.

Today was Qin Feng’s birthday banquet. When friends and family sat down to eat, he reappeared. Compared to earlier, Qin Feng now lacked his usual sharpness. His every movement carried a subtle air of decay. But Liang Yin was barely managing her own life—how could she find the energy to care about her son?

Still, no matter how defeated he looked, Qin Feng knew how to put on an act. He got through the banquet and entertained the guests.

Before he left, Liang Yin called him back and calmly asked, “What have you been doing lately? Do you have enough money?”

It didn’t sound like a real mother talking to her son—more like a stepmother asking about her stepson. There was no warmth, no affection—just formal inquiry. Qin Feng couldn’t tell if what he felt was regret or sorrow. Maybe both. After a long pause, he replied slowly, “I want to go somewhere new and start over.”

Liang Yin said nothing and didn’t try to stop him. She simply nodded. “Okay. Remember to send updates now and then.”

Qin Feng forced a smile. “Alright, Mom.”

Yu Liuxue watched Qin Feng retreat in silence and exclaimed, “Yes! I’m halfway done with my mission!”

The system immediately chimed in with praise. “That’s right! Host, all you have to do is resolve the female lead now, and the mission will be complete—you’ll be able to leave!”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Sigh.

At this point, Liang Yin already hated Guo Zao, yet the mission still wasn’t marked as complete. Yu Liuxue was baffled, and the system was clueless as ever, so she had no choice but to keep playing it safe and wait for an opportunity. But it didn’t take long before things spiraled out of control.

The now-single female lead had become excessively independent and strong, working like her life depended on it. In no time, Guo Zao’s name exploded in the industry. She was not only well-known in fashion circles but also frequently featured in newspapers and magazines. One fashion magazine dedicated an entire issue to her and invited her to shoot the cover as a rising star designer. Online media outlets also reported on her background, experiences, and current achievements—accompanied by her photo.

Guo Zao had worked tirelessly over the years, and her influence was undeniable. When netizens learned about her past, they were thrilled. Not only that, but people began digging up her dating history, ex-boyfriends, and admirers.

But the moment they got to Yu Liuxue, that part was mysteriously wiped.

Yu Liuxue had been enjoying the gossip. When it suddenly stopped, she assumed Liu Qingru had done it. But Liu Qingru was sitting right next to her, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and quietly reading the newspaper—she hadn’t even touched her phone. So it couldn’t have been her.

Yu Liuxue stared at Liu Qingru a bit too long. Liu Qingru lowered the newspaper, took off her glasses, and pulled Yu Liuxue into her arms. Lowering her gaze, she asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” But from Liu Qingru’s expression, Yu Liuxue knew something was wrong. Just as she put her phone down and tried to slip away, Liu Qingru locked her in place with both hands and lazily asked, “Where do you think you’re going?”

Ever since someone said Liu Qingru had married late in life, she’d been acting like she was on edge, constantly bullying Yu Liuxue to prove she wasn’t past her prime. Yu Liuxue couldn’t say a word, couldn’t resist at all—she just had to bite the pillow and let herself be tormented.

Her age had become a thorn in Liu Qingru’s heart. Thinking of how young and fickle her little girlfriend was only made her want to bully her more.

Liu Qingru leaned close to Yu Liuxue’s ear, chuckled softly, and said, “We still haven’t discussed Liang Yin.”

Liang Yin? What about her? Yu Liuxue was utterly confused.

Turns out, it wasn’t Liu Qingru who had the gossip posts deleted—it was Liang Yin. She had ordered her secretary to do it while Guo Zao was standing right there in her office. Guo Zao wore a faint smile as the secretary left, sneaking a glance at her and wondering: How did Director Guo go from a clueless sweetheart to such a smiling assassin under Director Liang’s guidance?

If Liang Yin had known, she might have cried injustice. She didn’t teach her anything! She didn’t say a word! Young people these days blacken their hearts on their own—it has nothing to do with me!

But no one would believe her. Guo Zao held her design drafts and, under Liang Yin’s watchful gaze, stepped forward and placed them on her desk. Then she took two steps back.

“Director Liang, please review.”

Guo Zao had worn perfume that day. The moment she approached, the scent overwhelmed Liang Yin’s nose. Frowning in displeasure, Liang Yin said, “You can go.”

Guo Zao nodded and added, “Director Liang, I’ll be flying overseas next week to attend a fashion show.”

Liang Yin didn’t even lift her head. “Got it.”

Guo Zao had no choice but to withdraw. She gently closed the door for Liang Yin and then stood outside, reluctant to leave. The trick Ruo Ruo had taught her really worked. Although Liang Yin was cold and indifferent at first, she now seemed to have gotten used to her presence. Guo Zao’s persistent smiling even wore down her temper—she couldn’t be bothered to get angry anymore.

But this trick wasn’t something Yu Liuxue had deliberately taught her. It came out casually during one of their conversations, and Guo Zao picked it up unconsciously and decided to use it.

Standing by the door, Guo Zao’s lashes fell low. Even though her family had once gone bankrupt, as the only child, she had always had a strong sense of pride despite her previously timid nature. The more others denied her, the more she craved recognition. She wanted to earn others’ approval through her own efforts.

She had climbed high enough now. Perhaps it was because of her “love rival” status with Liang Yin, or maybe it was because they constantly clashed, but Guo Zao inexplicably wanted Liang Yin’s approval.

She didn’t believe that despite her current hard work and excellence, Liang Yin couldn’t see a single redeeming quality in her.

The female lead’s motivation suddenly shifted toward earning Liang Yin’s approval. When Yu Liuxue heard about it, her eyes lit up. “Why is the heroine suddenly so on point? I’m really starting to like her more and more!”

The system scoffed, “Host, if you’ve got guts, go say that to Auntie Liu.”

Yu Liuxue: “……” No way, never.

Soon, Guo Zao packed her bags and set off on a business trip that would last a full month. Yu Liuxue had wanted to go too, but after serious consideration, Liu Qingru firmly forbade it. Yu Liuxue pleaded in vain and was instead reprimanded by Liu Qingru for trying to sneak off on a secret date with Guo Zao.

Yu Liuxue sighed up at the ceiling. “Life is so hard.”

Once Guo Zao left, Liang Yin’s sense of crisis disappeared. She suddenly had energy and a great mood for everything. People of their status were usually busier and worked harder than most. Now that Guo Zao was gone, Liang Yin was in high spirits and brought her team to negotiate with Liu Qingru.

Without Guo Zao around to constantly provoke her, Liang Yin’s feelings toward Yu Liuxue also cooled down somewhat.

However, every time she remembered all the suffering she had endured recently because of this little heartbreaker, she still couldn’t manage a pleasant expression whenever she saw Yu Liuxue. Yu Liuxue clung to Liu Qingru’s arm, nervous and uneasy, and whispered to the system, “Why doesn’t Auntie Liang like me yet?”

Women were just too scary. Just because I lied to her once in a moment of desperation, she’s held a grudge all these years?

With tears welling in her eyes, Yu Liuxue clutched Liu Qingru’s arm tightly. Being in Liu Qingru’s embrace calmed her a bit—she knew Liu Qingru would never let anyone bully her. Liang Yin shot her a glare and looked away, focusing on her business discussion with Liu Qingru instead. Yu Liuxue eavesdropped for a while and gradually felt something was off.

“System, why do Liang Yin’s plans… feel like she’s preparing for the end?”

Was she planning to walk away from this huge corporation? Then who would she hand it over to? It couldn’t be her… so could it be—

The female lead?!

Yu Liuxue slapped her thigh in excitement. That had to be it! Liang Yin must be planning to hand the company to Guo Zao and retire to travel the world happily. But why Guo Zao? Didn’t she dislike her immensely?

Yu Liuxue wracked her brain but couldn’t figure it out. Clearly, Liang Yin wasn’t sharing her plans with anyone.

So Yu Liuxue kept listening from the side, feeling more and more convinced. She just didn’t know when Liang Yin planned to leave. The female lead had just resolved to keep working hard to earn Liang Yin’s recognition, and now Liang Yin was about to leave? If it were her, Yu Liuxue would probably drop dead from sheer frustration.

Yu Liuxue stared at Liang Yin, thinking hard, and Liang Yin caught her and stared back with a warning in her eyes. She was afraid this little heartbreaker would run off and blab to Guo Zao, which would complicate things. Yu Liuxue quickly mimed zipping her lips and promised to stay silent.

Only then did Liang Yin look away.

Everything was being done behind Guo Zao’s back, extremely covertly. Even after returning from her work trip overseas, Guo Zao didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.

Yu Liuxue didn’t dare say a word. Even when Guo Zao invited her to meals, she would only accept after getting Liu Qingru’s permission—she didn’t want her partner getting jealous again. These days, Guo Zao was a seasoned professional, and even Yu Liuxue found her a bit hard to read.

Her smile seemed permanently etched onto her face—polite, gentle, and considerate to everyone. Yet, depending on the person, there were subtle differences in her expressions. Even so, there was always a faint sense of distance around her, making her hard to approach.

Except when she was with Yu Liuxue. Then, her joy was genuine, just like before: a bit silly, a bit sweet, a bit shy, and full of emotions that stirred the imagination.

Yu Liuxue held her chopsticks. “I heard you’re getting another promotion. Let me congratulate you in advance.”

Guo Zao was surprised. Her current position was already quite high—how much higher could Liang Yin promote her? Suspicious but smiling, she pressed her lips together. “Thank you, Ruo Ruo.”

After some small talk, Guo Zao suddenly asked nervously, “Ruo Ruo, do you think I’ll ever earn President Liang’s approval?”

Yu Liuxue thought to herself: probably not. But out loud, she comforted her, “Everyone has feelings. You’re working so hard—one day, Auntie Liang will recognize you.”

Her words gave Guo Zao some peace of mind. Still, after returning home, she couldn’t shake a strange feeling and a vague premonition. The next day at work, when she saw Liang Yin, the woman was her usual cold self—nothing seemed different.

But that only made Guo Zao more alert.

After giving instructions to her secretary, Liang Yin looked up and saw Guo Zao still standing in her office. Annoyed, she asked, “Why are you still here?”

Several thoughts flashed through Guo Zao’s mind. She stepped forward, stood before Liang Yin’s desk, leaned in slightly, and locked eyes with her. “President Liang, after all this time, are you still hostile to me because of Ruo Ruo?”

Just mentioning this made a strange, suffocating frustration rise in her chest—an urge to scream and cry. She bit her lip, trying to stay calm. “President Liang, I thought I’d already worked hard enough and proven myself. Even so, you’re still not satisfied with me?”

Guo Zao had always been a crier. Though she was better now, her eyes still reddened as she asked. Seeing the shimmer of tears in her eyes, Liang Yin was momentarily stunned, and a strange feeling rose in her heart. She gave a cold snort. “You done with all your work?”

She didn’t pause to reflect on the source of that strange feeling. Guo Zao’s expression reminded her too much of when Yu Liuxue had lied to her—so she instinctively dismissed Guo Zao’s rare vulnerability as another act. Having been fooled once, Liang Yin had learned her lesson. She wasn’t going to be deceived again.

She looked down on Guo Zao’s current state. Young people these days didn’t focus on doing their jobs—they just tried tricks like this. Too bad she was also a woman and immune to such pitiful tears.

Her expression turned frosty. “Just do your job properly.”

With that, she got up and left the office, unwilling to spend another moment with her. The door clicked shut behind her. Guo Zao straightened her back, head bowed, body cold. She let out a bitter laugh. So, she still hadn’t worked hard enough. Maybe in Liang Yin’s eyes, she was still that little girl from years ago, the one who secretly wiped her tears.

After that, Guo Zao seemed to be driven by some inner fire. Her influence within the company grew rapidly, until she became the number two person—second only to Liang Yin.

Then rumors began to circulate: that Guo Zao was getting restless, that she wanted to seize power and push President Liang out to take her place.

Even Yu Liuxue, who was far removed from the chaos, had heard about it—let alone the people at the center of the storm, Liang Yin and Guo Zao. But since the two main figures didn’t respond, Yu Liuxue left it alone. She nestled in Liu Qingru’s arms, peeling an orange. After peeling, she fed a segment to Liu Qingru, who bit into it and sucked in her fingers as well.

Yu Liuxue looked at her in mild exasperation. “President Liu…”

Liu Qingru glanced at her, then let go. “What is it?”

Yu Liuxue was afraid that Liu Qingru would think her every expression and movement was a roundabout way of saying “I want you,” so she quickly composed herself and asked seriously, “Is Auntie Liang…?”

But Liu Qingru had no interest in talking about that. She tightened her arms around Yu Liuxue and deliberately lowered her voice to whisper in her ear, “You’re mentioning other women in front of me on purpose. Is it because you want me?”

Yu Liuxue: “???”

I’ve been wronged! That’s not what I meant at all, don’t go making things up!

Feeling utterly powerless, Yu Liuxue leaned against Liu Qingru’s shoulder. She couldn’t help lifting her head to ask cautiously, “President Liu, do you really see me as someone who’s always desperate for affection?”

Liu Qingru didn’t even hesitate. “Mm.”

Yu Liuxue: “…” I concede defeat.

Yu Liuxue kept an eye on the female lead. Liang Yin’s birthday was coming up soon. She didn’t throw a lavish banquet—just invited a few close friends. She hadn’t wanted to invite Guo Zao, but Guo Zao shamelessly showed up anyway. Even if Liang Yin was unhappy about it, she could only endure.

Standing beside Liu Qingru, Liang Yin glanced at Guo Zao and Yu Liuxue talking not far away, then looked away and said with distaste, “Like a little dog, no matter how you shake her off, she clings right back.”

Liu Qingru didn’t respond. Her gaze swept past Guo Zao and finally landed on Yu Liuxue. Liang Yin continued complaining, “They say ‘you become who you’re close to.’ Guo Zao is turning more and more into Qiao Ruo.”

Liu Qingru actually agreed with that. No matter how coldly Liang Yin treated Guo Zao, Guo Zao always smiled brightly and stuck by her side like she didn’t notice a thing. Who knew what she really wanted?

Surely she wasn’t trying to drive Liang Yin crazy so she could fight Liu Qingru for Yu Liuxue?

Liu Qingru retracted her gaze and asked calmly, “When do you plan to leave?”

Liang Yin thought for a moment and replied, “Soon. After all, I’ve lived here for so many years. I should at least stay through my birthday.”

“Have you arranged everything?”

“It’s all set. But I’ll still need you to keep an eye on things for me, so she doesn’t ruin all the effort I’ve poured into this place.” As she said this, Liang Yin looked disappointed. Her own son had failed to live up to expectations, so she had no choice but to hand everything over to Guo Zao—an outsider.

If her son had any ambition, she never would’ve made this choice.

Liu Qingru suddenly sighed. Walking side by side with Liang Yin, she said, “You’re really willing to let it all go?”

Liang Yin fell silent. But what if she wasn’t? Everyone has their own path. She had more money than she could spend in eight lifetimes. Wouldn’t it be better to enjoy the rest of her life traveling the world? If she stayed, she’d only be pissed off by Guo Zao day in and day out—who knew when that might kill her?

They accidentally made eye contact, then both burst out laughing. Liang Yin countered, “And you’re planning to stick around?”

“What else? She’s here.”

Qin Feng had started a new life elsewhere and kicked all his bad habits. But every time he tried dating, he’d either fall into some trap or get cheated on. After enough of that, he was exhausted and didn’t want to try anymore.

He came to Liang Yin’s birthday and from a distance saw Guo Zao and Yu Liuxue chatting and laughing. For a moment, he felt a pang of regret.

Qiao Ruo hadn’t been that bad—sure, she liked showing off, but at least she had once liked him. And Guo Zao…

Remembering how they’d started over a misunderstanding, Qin Feng couldn’t look at the situation rationally. So when both Yu Liuxue and Guo Zao looked his way, he immediately turned around and walked off, not intending to greet either of his exes.

Yu Liuxue narrowed her eyes at his retreating figure. She already knew about his current situation from the system. Other than finding it a little pitiful, she didn’t feel much.

Guo Zao, on the other hand, got emotional. “I used to think Qin Feng was my savior. But after meeting you, Ruo Ruo, I realized the only person who can save you—is yourself.”

Yu Liuxue replied, “If you were the female lead, you’d be from a powerful-woman urban drama.”

Guo Zao laughed. “Thank you.”

After her birthday, Liang Yin vanished without a trace. She had arranged everything perfectly—so well that even without her, the company ran as usual. She handed the company over to Guo Zao, who nearly went mad when she found out she was the new CEO.

She immediately drove over to find Yu Liuxue. As soon as she saw her, she broke down in tears. “Ruo Ruo, President Liang left! She left me behind!”

Seeing the female lead cry like that, Yu Liuxue couldn’t help but feel a little distressed. She hurried to comfort her, “Maybe she just went on a trip…”

Guo Zao shook her head and interrupted, “No way. We had a deal—she’d help bring my dad back into the game, and I’d take over the company in Qin Feng’s place.” Guo Zao was sobbing, gasping for breath. She bit her lip hard. “She’s gone for good. She’s not coming back.”

She hadn’t even acknowledged Guo Zao’s talents yet—how could she just leave?

Suddenly, Guo Zao’s expression turned serious. “Ruo Ruo, can you help me watch the company for a while? I’m going to find her. I’m bringing her back.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?” Little bro, what’s going on with you?

Acting on impulse, Guo Zao left right after drafting a document at the office and catching a flight. Holding the document she’d had someone deliver, Yu Liuxue looked utterly hopeless. Behind her, Liu Qingru wrapped her arms around Yu Liuxue’s waist. “And how did you con your way into this one, hmm?”

Her low voice startled Yu Liuxue into a shiver. She quickly explained, “Guo Zao handed this to me herself!”

Liu Qingru chuckled. “And you think I’d believe that?”

It’s true!

The next day, Yu Liuxue stared at the document and asked the system, “My mission… does this count as completed?”

Even the system wasn’t sure. “Maybe?”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Just as she was sinking into despair, Liu Qingru walked in drying her hair, then leaned down and began unbuttoning Yu Liuxue’s shirt. Her eyes went wide. “…!”

Again?!

She grabbed Liu Qingru’s arm and pleaded miserably, “President Liu…”

Please let me go!

Liu Qingru brushed her hand away. “You don’t like it?”

It’s not that she didn’t—she did—but at this rate, she couldn’t take it anymore. Liu Qingru let out a soft laugh, teased her for a bit, then finally asked, “Still dare to flirt behind my back?”

Yu Liuxue looked like she was about to cry. “N-no more.”

Never again.

The female lead had run off and disappeared—who was there left to flirt with?

“Swear it.”

“I swear. QAQ.”

========== End of Arc =============