But... the sharp pain in her heart was a thousand times, ten thousand times more painful than when Ning Bingyu coldly broke up with her.
Why...why do I feel so bad?
Was she too reckless?
It was today's good news that made her so overjoyed.
If that man could be easily captured, she wouldn't have wanted him for so long.
She should have been slower, she should have drugged him, she was too impulsive today!
But it feels so bad!
It's so painful!
It's like having something you've meticulously planned for so long, and it's finally within your grasp, only to have it suddenly smashed to pieces.
The favor and glory she thought she could regain, the recognition and control she craved...
Everything seemed to vanish into thin air at that moment.
Why?
She was born into such privilege; her looks, knowledge, education, and family background were all top-notch. She was the goddess of countless young men and the center of attention wherever she went.
So what if she got into university through donations? Which wealthy person doesn't donate to top international universities? She earned her diploma by completing all the required credits herself!
She has a clear conscience!
But ever since she met Ning Yuan, she has been losing!
She lost the Cha family, lost Ning Bingyu, lost her status in social circles, lost her wealth, and lost her last shred of dignity.
Now... even this man she thought she could hold onto is trampling on her dignity so mercilessly!
Ning Yuan... Ning Yuan...
The name was like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in the most painful part of her heart.
That country girl, whom she had never paid any attention to, seemed to be gradually devouring and replacing her glory and life.
Why is her life like this? This isn't right! This isn't right!!
Everything is wrong!
Cha Meiling slowly lowered her head, her long hair falling messily, and her shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably.
Suppressed sobs escaped from deep within her throat, quickly turning into uncontrollable weeping.
She didn't know how long she cried, until her voice was hoarse and her tears had dried up.
Suddenly, a low, eerie laugh rolled out of her throat.
"Hehe...hehehe..."
The laughter grew louder and more shrill, carrying a despair bordering on madness.
She slowly raised her head, her face still wet with tears, veins bulging on her forehead, and her once charming eyes now burning with a mad flame.
"Good...so good..."
She clenched her fist tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm.
The sharp, stinging pain brought with it a morbid clarity.
Her smile was twisted and ferocious: "Since none of you will choose me..."
"Since you're unwilling to let me do anything for you and treat me like trash, then don't blame me. Those who don't choose me deserve to go to hell!"
Cha Meiling smiled, but tears kept streaming down her face; her laughter echoed in the empty room.
...
Zhou Yan closed the door expressionlessly, completely shutting out Cha Meiling's frantic and desperate cries behind him.
The sound was like some kind of filth, and he felt disgusted even by being exposed to it for a second longer.
The elevator arrived with a "ding" and the doors slowly slid open.
A middle-aged woman in a blue cleaning uniform was pushing a cleaning cart, preparing to exit the elevator.
The auntie, with the numbness and weariness common among the lower classes, saw Zhou Yan and instinctively stepped aside, saying with a touch of humble politeness, "Sir, please go first."
Zhou Yan stepped into the elevator, continuing his walk as he passed the cleaning cart.
He didn't even turn his head, but coldly said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Keep a close eye on her, and report any unusual movements immediately."
The woman's hand, which was pushing the cart, paused almost imperceptibly. In that instant, a shrewd and sharp glint flashed in her previously cloudy eyes.
She nodded almost imperceptibly, the movement so small it was as if she had only momentarily lost her composure.
She then resumed her natural movements, still looking tired, humble, and ordinary: "Sir, please take care."
The elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out everything outside.
As Zhou Yan stepped out of the apartment building, the evening breeze, carrying the damp scent unique to Hong Kong, swept over him, but it couldn't dispel the gloomy and fierce aura between his brows.
With his hands in his pockets, he walked straight to the small cigarette stand on the street corner, lit by a dim yellow light.
The cigarette stall owner was a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a faded old T-shirt, lounging in his chair, idly listening to Cantonese opera on the radio.
Seeing Zhou Yan approach, he lazily raised his eyelids, without any special reaction, just like he would treat any ordinary late-night visitor.
"Handsome, what are you buying?"
Zhou Yan casually pulled a few banknotes from his pocket and placed them on the counter, his voice flat: "Excuse me, a pack of Lucky Strike."
The shopkeeper slowly took two packs of cigarettes off the shelf and then slowly gave change.
Just as Zhou Yan accepted the cigarette and change, the shopkeeper's lips moved almost imperceptibly: "There's new information from Sparrow's side, the fish has been caught."
Zhou Yan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the two packs of cigarettes in his hand: "Have Sparrow keep adding bait, I want the fish to jump higher."
Their voices were perfectly drowned out by the cacophony of horse racing commentary on the radio.
The whole process was so fast it felt like an illusion, as if it were just a casual touch and whisper when getting change for cigarettes.
The shopkeeper nodded and stuffed the change back into Zhou Yan's hand: "Alright, handsome, come back and patronize us again next time!"
He resumed his lazy demeanor and continued listening to his Cantonese opera.
Zhou Yan didn't linger any longer and turned to walk towards the sleek and eye-catching sports car parked not far from the roadside.
He opened the car door, got in, and rolled the window down slightly.
The night wind blew into the car, ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.
He didn't start the car immediately, but simply tossed the cigarette onto the passenger seat.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze passing through the windshield as he looked at the distant, cold yet bustling city skyline outlined by neon lights.
In those beautiful phoenix eyes, the lingering disgust and irritation, like an undercurrent beneath the ice, eventually settled slowly.
All that remained was an almost indifferent coldness and focus, like a lurking predator.
...
Two weeks later
For the past two weeks, the Hong Kong government has been on edge regarding the financial markets.
Negative news about Jialin Group spread like wildfire, and its stock price plummeted like a kite with a broken string.
Various rumors and insider revelations circulated among the public, pushing Chen Jingsong and his business empire to the brink of disaster.
In Ning Man's office in Central, the air was as cool and refreshing as ever, filled with the scent of high-end fragrance.
Ning Man'an sat upright behind the mahogany desk, his face as cold as ice.
The latest financial newspapers were spread out on the table, with the headline prominently reporting that Jialin Group's stock price was teetering on the brink of collapse.
There was a knock on the office door, and Secretary A Xiang pushed it open and entered, followed by Chen Jingsong with a "sincere" smile on his face.
Chen Jingsong plopped down on the sofa, slammed the documents he was holding onto the table, pulled out his pipe, and began to complain—
"My dear niece, I've been utterly overwhelmed these past few days. The stock market has been incredibly volatile lately, and Jialin's stock has been maliciously shorted. Take a look at the results of my investigation!"
"It's not just local enemies trying to short Jialin; there are also several international hot money groups stirring up trouble. They're clearly in cahoots!"
"I told you long ago, it's obvious someone is trying to destroy me. Once I find out who's behind this, I will definitely not let them get away with it!"
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