From the initial shock and resistance to last night's helpless acceptance...all of this was like an invisible force repeatedly knocking at his insistence on "loyalty".
"Perhaps I'm too obsessed with form?" Standing in front of the elevator, the smooth mirror reflected his thoughtful face. Beyond his usual composure, his deep eyes held a hint of relief.
"Reborn, rewriting my destiny, possessing vision and abilities that transcend my time—isn't that all about breaking free? Should I still be imprisoned by the meaningless regrets and belated obsessions of my past life?"
He remembered Liu Rumeng's eyes filled with pleading and self-blame, and her humble desire to "take care" of everything for him.
"Forcing herself to maintain a 'loyalty' that she believes requires self-sacrifice has only caused her to live under pressure and guilt. Isn't this another form of deeper betrayal and selfishness?"
Confucius's words in his later years, "At seventy, I can follow my heart's desire, without transgressing the rules," seem to have a deeper understanding of the harmony and openness of a completely liberated mind at this moment. Rules and following one's heart are not necessarily opposites. Adapting to circumstances and truly freeing loved ones from their constraints is not another form of protection, is it?
"Since Mengmeng can let go and is willing to 'love' me in this way, why should I cling to a false reputation of 'loyalty' that causes her pain and makes her constantly feel imperfect?"
The elevator door opened silently, and Lin Huowang stepped in.
"In this life, if I want to control the world as I please, why should I be trapped by mundane definitions? I will just protect them, give them a rich and stable life, and let them each find their true destiny. That is my way."
The knot in my heart had finally been completely untied. Freed from all restraints, an unprecedented sense of relaxation, accompanied by a newfound resolve, quietly spread within me.
The heavy bedroom door of the presidential suite had just closed when Zhu Lingling, who had been "sleeping" with her eyes closed on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes.
In the bright eyes of the "Most Beautiful Miss Hong Kong," a trace of recently receding panic and a thick layer of embarrassment lingered. She sat up, not caring about the revealing silk nightgown, and glanced toward the door with lingering fear.
"Still pretending to sleep?" Lu Ruirong had already put on her nightgown and was sitting in front of the dressing table, slowly combing her long black hair and looking at Zhu Lingling teasingly through the mirror.
Her voice was filled with the satisfaction of hindsight and the smugness of someone who saw through everything. "What's there to be embarrassed about? Since you're already his woman, isn't it better to be open and honest? Are you trying to imitate Liu Rumeng and build a chastity arch for yourself? This is Hong Kong Island!"
She put down the comb, turned around, and looked at Zhu Lingling with a burning gaze. "In this place, whoever laughs is poor! Who would laugh at someone who can rely on a big tree? Besides..."
She deliberately drew out her words, a mixture of fascination and realism on her face. "We're not following some fat, old-fashioned, overweight tycoon. Everyone says Xiaolinsheng is young, handsome, elegant, and talented! His wealth and status are even more... Tsk, he's simply the perfect lover dropped from the sky! Honestly, meeting him and having a romantic encounter with him is incredibly lucky for us. Who knows who's going to get the better of whom?"
Lu Ruirong's tone was surprisingly frank, stripping away all the emotional fig leaves, leaving only the naked calculation of gains and losses.
"It's a pity that the only one who is firmly nailed to his heart is Liu Rumeng. We can't compare in this regard." She sighed, with a hint of imperceptible envy and unwillingness in her voice.
Zhu Lingling leaned against the headboard, hugging her knees, and remained silent for a long moment. Lu Ruirong's sharp words were like a needle, piercing through her last vestiges of reserve. She felt in her pocket; the check for one million Hong Kong dollars seemed to be burning with heat.
"I understand what you're saying, too." Her voice was soft, carrying a complex sense of fatigue. "Xiao Linsheng... is impeccable in every way. Looks, abilities, wealth, and status—everything is top-notch. And last night... you know, the two of us combined couldn't do anything to him. How could such an energetic and powerful man be so devoted to Liu Rumeng?"
She looked blankly at the luxurious sea view outside the window. "Liu Rumeng... probably understood this, so she took the initiative to send us to him, right? She wanted to find a decent... replacement for him?"
There was a subtle hint of self-mockery and bitterness in her tone.
"A replacement?" Lv Ruirong scoffed, her eyes piercing with a certain coldness. She stood up and walked to the huge French window, looking out at the Central Kingdom that belonged to Xiaolin Tianwang.
"If you want to belittle yourself like that, go ahead. Why put it in such a pitiful way?" She turned her head, raised her chin, and regained her shrewd demeanor. "Can't you think like me? This night, I got a million dollars, which many people can't earn in their entire lives! And that's not counting the house they'll be offering us to choose from later! It's enough for our family to live a stable and comfortable life in Hong Kong Island for decades! A quick rise to the top, isn't this the destination we all dreamed of when we participated in the Miss Hong Kong competition?"
Her voice gradually rose, carrying a realistic excitement. "No more worrying about Dad's factory going bankrupt. No more hiding in the closet like we did as kids, afraid of loan sharks banging on the door! Look at that check! One million can do so much! And it's only been one night! Zhu Lingling, we've made a killing! Don't be ungrateful!"
These words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Zhu Lingling's heart hard, instantly dispelling most of her inexplicable melancholy and loss.
Xiao Linsheng's lavish spending last night, and the vision of a future Lu Ruirong had painted...safe, prosperous, and stable. Wasn't this exactly her ultimate goal in participating in the Miss Hong Kong pageant and marrying into a wealthy family? And last night, it was all within her grasp!
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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