Chapter 99: My Best Friend’s Concerns (Part 1)
The word "Genting" is worthy of its name.
The huge terrace seems to be suspended in the clouds, with the rolling sea of clouds at the feet and the rolling dark green mountains in the distance.
In the center of the terrace, a circular jacuzzi, large enough to accommodate four or five people, gurgled with warm water, gently soothing tired muscles. Above the tub, a smartly controlled starry sky ceiling simulated the Milky Way on a summer night, its twinkling stars interplaying brilliantly with the authentic twilight.
Yu Ling lazily soaked in the warm water, her back against the smooth pool wall, almost sighing in comfort. The steam rose in the air, turning her cheeks red.
Zhao Chen, wearing only a pair of dark swimming trunks, sat on the edge of the bathtub. In one hand, he held a delicate crystal bowl filled with a small mountain of vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce and chopped nuts. In the other, he held a silver spoon, carefully scooping a spoonful and offering it to Yu Ling's lips.
"Come, Lingling, try this." His voice sounded particularly gentle amid the sound of rushing water and soft background music.
Yu Ling opened her mouth slightly and took in the scoop of cool, sweet ice cream. The rich aroma of milk and the slightly bitter taste of caramel melted on her tongue, instantly dispelling the slight heat brought by the steam.
"Is it sweet?" Zhao Chen looked at her satisfied expression, raised the corners of his mouth gently, and scooped another spoonful.
"Yeah," Yu Ling responded vaguely, her body relaxed as she slid down, letting the warm water flow over her shoulders. "You... don't want to eat?"
"Watching you eat it, it's sweeter than when I eat it myself." Zhao Chen chuckled and fed the second spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. His fingertips inadvertently rubbed her soft lips, bringing a subtle electric current.
Yu Ling's ears were tickled by his straightforward love words. She glared at him angrily, but her heart felt as sweet as if she were soaking in a honey pot.
Just as she was enjoying this ultimate sweetness, her body and mind relaxed to the point of near laziness—
“Buzz…Buzz…”
The phone, placed on the small table next to the bathtub, suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up, displaying the caller's name: Su Xiao (best friend).
Yu Ling's good mood was interrupted, and she frowned slightly. It's so late, what's up Xiaoxiao? She reached for her phone.
Zhao Chen's movements were even faster. He put down the ice cream bowl, stretched out his long arm, easily picked up the phone, and handed it to Yu Ling:
"Xiaoxiao's call? Answer it." He was still sitting by the bathtub, his posture relaxed, without any intention of avoiding suspicion, his eyes still gently fixed on her.
Yu Ling pressed the answer button and put the phone to her ear: "Hello, Xiaoxiao?"
There was no usual noisy greeting from her best friend on the other end of the phone. Instead, Su Xiao's voice, lowered to a very low level and filled with obvious urgency and nervousness, came like a barrage of bullets:
"Reiko! Oh my God! Where are you?! Is it free to talk?! Is there no one around?!" The anxiety in her voice almost penetrated the receiver.
Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat and she sat up straight subconsciously, warm water dripping from her shoulders: "I'm... outside. What's wrong, Xiaoxiao? What happened?" She glanced at Zhao Chen next to her. He was still sitting quietly with a questioning look in his eyes.
"I was just at Hang Lung! Buying that dress you liked! Guess who I ran into?!" Su Xiao's voice was filled with shock and anxiety, as if she had just discovered some shocking gossip. "Gu Qianqian! Your husband's ex-girlfriend who's still haunting me! Gu Qianqian!"
Gu Qianqian? !
This name was like an icicle, instantly puncturing the warm and charming bubble on the terrace! The comfort on Yu Ling's face disappeared instantly, and her brows furrowed tightly. "Her? What does she want from you?" An ominous premonition quickly enveloped her heart.
"She 'happened' to come look at the skirts too! 'Happened' to recognize me as your bestie!" Su Xiao spoke at an alarming pace, filled with the excitement of being deliberately guided. "Then she pulled me aside to 'chat'! Oh my god! We talked for almost an hour! It was all about Zhao Chen!"
Lidya Su took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Lingzi! Listen to me! She told me a lot about Zhao Chen's time studying in America! She said he had a lot of fun there! He was a famous playboy in the Chinese community! He changed girlfriends faster than he changed clothes! Blonde models, rich girls, top students... He accepted everyone! He had a lot of fun!"
"She also said!" Su Xiao's voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief and worry:
"Zhao Chen spent money like water back then! He owed a ton of money to pick up girls and keep up appearances! He borrowed from those high-interest loans from underground lenders! The interest compounded, and he couldn't pay it back! In the end, his family had to figure out some way to make up for it! But they said he was seriously injured and his family's savings were almost gone!"
"Lingzi!" Su Xiao's voice was filled with tears and great panic. "She said that Zhao Chen is pretending to be a decent person and being considerate to you. He is simply looking for a reliable successor because you are honest and easy to control! His gentleness and consideration are all fake! Who knows how bad he is behind the scenes! All the debts he owes... Oh my God! Lingzi! Wake up! Don't be fooled by him!"
boom--!
Every word Su Xiao said was like a poisoned needle, piercing Yu Ling's eardrum!
Those accusations of being "flirtatious," "promiscuous," "loan sharking," "pretending to be honest," and "looking for a scapegoat" instantly exploded in her mind like the most vicious curse! The sweet peace she had just felt was shattered, leaving only cold panic and a fury of being ruthlessly fooled!
Yu Ling's face turned pale instantly! Her fingers gripping the phone were so tight that their knuckles turned white and trembled slightly. She could even hear the chattering of her teeth! Her heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by an icy hand, the pain so severe that she could hardly breathe! She suddenly looked up at Zhao Chen beside her!
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