After hanging up the video, Su Xinghui checked her handbag one last time: pepper spray, a micro voice recorder, and the special lipstick - unscrew the bottom to reveal a sharp blade.
She stood in front of the mirror, gently brushing her hair, letting a few strands fall naturally over her collarbone. Perfect. Not too forced, yet captivating enough to behold.
The doorbell rang at nine o'clock in the evening.
Su Xinghui raised an eyebrow at Zhou Yuan's outfit. She wore a deep V-neck red dress with a thigh-high slit. Her shoes were Manolo Blahnik shoes studded with rhinestones. Her makeup was even more vibrant than during the day, and her eyelashes, like two tiny fans, cast fine shadows under the light.
"Surprise?" Zhou Yuan spun around, the scent of perfume so strong it could choke you. "I just slipped out of a dinner party."
Su Xinghui showed just the right amount of surprise: "You're being so grand, I feel embarrassed..."
Before he could finish his words, Zhou Yuan took his arm and said, "Let's go. I have better wine in my room."
As the elevator descended, Su Xinghui noticed the ring mark on Zhou Yuan's left ring finger. That spot... is it an engagement ring? Yet, Zhou Yuan's profile clearly indicated she was single. Interesting.
The elevator mirror reflected two figures—one as flamboyant as fire, the other as serene as water. Zhou Yuan's fingertips tapped unconsciously on the champagne glass, the diamonds on her nails gleaming in the light, like some kind of danger signal.
"I heard that you grew up together and have a very good relationship." Zhou Yuan suddenly spoke.
Su Xinghui didn't say anything, but just gave a polite smile.
The elevator dinged to a stop on the designated floor. The corridor was covered in thick carpet, making it soundless. Zhou Yuan's suite was at the end, number 888—a typical nouveau riche affair.
The layout of the room almost made Su Xinghui laugh out loud.
Rose petals strewn across the floor, a chilled bottle of Dom Perignon by the bed, and even the bathroom lit with scented candles—the scene looked like something straight out of a cheesy romance movie.
"Try this." Zhou Yuan handed over the wine glass, and the broken diamonds on her nails scratched across the back of Su Xinghui's hand.
The wine took on an eerie amber hue under the light. Su Xinghui pretended to take a sip, but in reality, she poured the entire bottle into the absorbent layer of her sleeve.
She watched Zhou Yuan raise her head and drink her own cup, her Adam's apple rolling defenselessly.
Really... no progress at all.
Su Xinghui's eyes swept over the slightly bulging pillow—there was definitely something hidden underneath. She pretended to stumble, then sat down on the edge of the bed, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of the pillow.
The touch of hard objects.
"Strange, I suddenly feel a little dizzy..." Zhou Yuan began to rub her temples, her acting was so poor that it was laughable.
Su Xinghui supported her shaking body: "Do you want to lie down for a while?"
As Zhou Yuan slumped on the bed like a dead fish, Su Xinghui fished out a phone from under her pillow. The fingerprint unlock went smoothly—Zhou Yuan's right hand still dangled limply by the bed.
The contents of the album made Su Xinghui whistle. There were not only photos of Zhou Yuan taking drugs at the Midnight Bar, but also the newly created folder, named "Ye," which contained all candid photos of Ye Fanshuang, the most recent one taken three days ago.
"I see." Su Xinghui chuckled and connected her phone to the signal jammer she brought with her.
She leaned over and brushed aside Zhou Yuan's hair, whispering in her ear, "Do you think I'd just delete the photos like Fan Shuang did?"
Zhou Yuan's eyelids trembled violently, but she couldn't open them - the drug was starting to take effect.
Su Xinghui took out a syringe from her bag and accurately inserted it into Zhou Yuan's vein: "Enjoy the GHB you prepared yourself, Miss Zhou."
She turned and left.
The next day, Zhou Yuan woke up in the hotel lobby, her head resting on the cold marble floor. She blinked, only to see the spinning crystal chandelier, which stung her temples.
She could hear gasps coming from all directions—at least twenty tenants were filming her with their cell phones.
"Ma'am, do you need any help?" the doorman's voice was trembling.
She sat up suddenly, then was overwhelmed by the pain all over her body. Her silk nightgown was wrinkled like a rag, and the left shoulder strap was broken, revealing a large area of purple skin.
The most terrifying thing was the stinging sensation on her forehead - she touched the makeup mirror with trembling hands, and the red word "Bitch" reflected in it had already scabbed over, like an ugly brand.
The phone vibrated. In the MMS message from an unfamiliar number, she was slumped on the carpet, her clothes disheveled, the insulting words on her forehead particularly clear under the flashlight. The postscript was like a knife stabbing into her pupil:
[If you get closer to Ye Fanshuang, this photo will appear on the Zhou Group's official website next time.]
"Ms. Zhou?" the receptionist trotted over, handing over a gift box. "An Asian lady left this in the early morning."
The Dior box was stained with dew, and inside lay the missing limited edition perfume. Zhou Yuan's nails dug into the wrapping paper, and the moment she saw the card, it completely broke.
[I'll return the perfume. By the way, your drugging technique is too old-fashioned. I suggest you find a new teacher to learn from.]
The smiling face in the signature painting has its mouth stretched from ear to ear.
"ah--!"
Her scream caught in her throat as she suddenly realized something even more terrifying: the ring mark on her right ring finger had disappeared. It wasn't just any ring; it was a micro-storage device Zhou Ziqian had given her, containing the Zhou Group's latest merger and acquisition plan.
The elevator dinged to a stop on the executive floor. Zhou Yuan stumbled into the suite, where the fluorescent agent on the combination dial of the safe revealed signs of prying.
The file bag in the closet's secret compartment disappeared, leaving only a note stuck in the empty safe:
I've accepted the bid for the Nancheng plot. Please give my regards to Mr. Zhou.
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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