Volume One, Chapter 12: Someone You Can’t Afford to Provoke

Page 1/3

Zhou Huaixu strode forward, opened the door, and Chen Yuan respectfully handed over the bag. “President Zhou, here is the clothing you requested.”

After delivering the clothes, Chen Yuan wisely took his leave immediately.

Zhou Huaixu turned back; the living room was empty, no sign of Shen Zhao. He placed the bag on the bar counter, pulled out a chair at the dining table, and leisurely sat down to have breakfast.

Twenty minutes later, hearing no other movements in the living room, Shen Zhao slowly emerged from the bathroom.

Without looking up, Zhou Huaixu said, “How long do you think you can keep hiding?”

Shen Zhao was speechless.

Wasn’t she supposed to hide?

The things she and he had done—how could a third party possibly find out?

Obviously, Shen Zhao cared deeply, but Zhou Huaixu was indifferent.

Even if the secret came out, no one would dare speak ill of Zhou Huaixu; instead, they would only think Shen Zhao was deluded, shamelessly seducing him.

Zhou Huaixu glanced at the bar: “The clothes.”

“Thank you.”

By the time Shen Zhao had changed and returned, Zhou Huaixu had finished his meal and was fastening his tie, his expression cold and detached, exuding an unapproachable, arrogant aura as he pulled up his trousers.

Shen Zhao recalled the phone call from last night. “President Zhou, your mother won’t trouble me, will she?”

She had never met Pei Ya, but from their two phone calls, she could clearly feel Pei Ya’s suffocating, obsessive control over Zhou Huaixu.

And Zhou Lin’s reckless behavior suggested a lack of morality.

It seemed this family couldn’t produce a single normal person.

Zhou Huaixu looked at her calmly. “You were the one who made a noise last night.”

The implication was clear: bear the consequences yourself.

Shen Zhao snapped, “It was clearly on purpose by you…”

Zhou Huaixu replied, “On purpose what?”

Shen Zhao didn’t want to say another word to him. She quickly finished her meal and slammed the door behind her, leaving even faster than he did.

As she rushed downstairs, she met Chen Yuan waiting by the Bentley; their eyes locked in mutual challenge.

Chen Yuan’s pupils flickered, but he maintained a professional smile. “Good morning.”

Shen Zhao’s spirit was crushed; she replied blankly, “Morning.”

...

Things never happen more than three times. After the second, Shen Zhao’s survival instincts were on high alert—she must never get involved with Zhou Huaixu again.

Whether it was Zhou Lin or Zhou Huaixu’s mother, if they found out about her affair with Zhou Huaixu, the one who would suffer would inevitably be her; Zhou Huaixu would come out unscathed.

Though her life was difficult now, Shen Zhao was tough and treasured her life—she had no desire to die young.

Moreover, she had made up her mind to outlive Zhou Huaixu. She might never get the chance to take revenge while he lived, but when he died, she would find a dark, windy night to dance on his grave.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Huaixu hadn’t contacted her since.

Page 2/3

Occasionally, she would run into him at the company, politely addressing him as President Zhou with a formal, distant tone.

Zhou Huaixu still maintained that same lofty, untouchable demeanor in everyone’s eyes.

That morning, Shen Zhao observed the recent operational status and stock prices of the companies they had invested in.

Xiao Li hummed happily as she entered.

Zhang Yunshu asked, “What’s good enough to make you this cheerful?”

Xiao Li sipped her coffee slowly. “Justice will be served.”

Zhang Yunshu raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Li lowered her voice. “There was a data error in the financial department’s report to President Zhou; the original data came from Ji Chao. As a result, the financial leader lost half a year’s bonus, and Ji Chao lost three months’ pay.”

Zhang Yunshu didn’t gloat but instead grew serious.

“President Zhou values data accuracy above all. A tiny mistake can lead to colossal disaster. Our company’s core business is investment; if the financial data is flawed, everything is wasted. A mere salary deduction is mild punishment.”

“Be careful yourselves—don’t make such basic mistakes.”

Xiao Li asked, “So, does that mean President Zhou deliberately let it slide?”

Shen Zhao and Zhang Yunshu exchanged glances without answering.

Xiao Li complained, “You two are so secretive.”

Zhang Yunshu tapped the end of her pen on Xiao Li’s forehead. “Didn’t I tell you? Work more, talk less. Did the risk reports for those companies come out last week?”

Xiao Li: “Almost done, should be ready tonight!”

That evening, after Shen Zhao worked late, Zhang Yunshu invited her to dinner.

Shen Zhao nodded. “Then it’s on me.”

Zhang Yunshu refused. “I invited you, why would you pay?”

Zhang Yunshu understood Shen Zhao’s difficulties and often took good care of her. Though strict at work, she had taught her much. Shen Zhao, grateful, insisted she wouldn’t let Zhang Yunshu pay.

“Fine, just this once,” Zhang Yunshu relented.

They found a restaurant near the company with private rooms, ideal for conversation.

Zhang Yunshu asked about Shen Zhao’s recent trip to Rong City. Shen Zhao answered truthfully, then thoughtfully said, “It seems the company’s previous investment philosophy was completely opposite to President Zhou’s. But he doesn’t plan to reform immediately.”

Zhang Yunshu was unsurprised.

“Of course, no matter how capable you are, going it alone leads only to dead ends.”

“Besides, the domestic investment environment differs greatly from abroad. Concepts that work overseas don’t always apply here.”

“The financial department made such a big blunder but only got salary cuts. I heard General Manager Xu personally pleaded with President Zhou on their behalf.”

General Manager Xu Fei was the CEO of Huaze.

Shen Zhao pondered this.

Zhang Yunshu asked, “What are you thinking?”

Shen Zhao replied, “Is it possible this mistake wasn’t accidental?”

Page 3/3

Zhang Yunshu’s expression darkened. “You mean the data given to President Zhou was deliberately falsified?”

“I’m only speculating.”

Without evidence, Shen Zhao kept her thoughts to herself. This hypothesis lingered in her mind, but she had no firm proof nor desire to verify it.

Zhang Yunshu advised, “If it’s just a guess, keep it to yourself. We should focus on our own work. The power struggles at the top aren’t our concern.”

“Mm.”

“By the way, has Ji Chao gotten a wealthy boyfriend?”

Zhang Yunshu suddenly changed the subject.

Shen Zhao paused peeling shrimp, then asked calmly, “Why do you say that?”

Zhang Yunshu said, “Have you noticed all the designer brands in her bag and clothes? She even switched to a BMW recently. She joined the company at the same time as you and is still in the junior finance role. Can she afford that on her salary?”

Shen Zhao smiled faintly. “I’m not sure.”

Zhang Yunshu sighed. “You’re calm about this, but with Ji Chao’s scheming nature, if she had a rich boyfriend, she’d probably be up to something.”

Having worked fifteen years in the corporate world, Zhang Yunshu was sharp at reading people.

Ji Chao seemed aloof and unaffected, but after a few encounters, Zhang Yunshu knew she was someone to avoid.

Shen Zhao said, “If he’s mine, no matter what tricks she plays, she can’t take him away. If he’s not, I won’t force it.”

Zhang Yunshu was stunned, sensing the meaning behind her words, unable to believe it.

Shen Zhao placed the peeled shrimp in her bowl.

Zhang Yunshu exclaimed, “No way!”

Shen Zhao replied, “Nothing’s impossible. I didn’t expect it either.”

Over a month ago, seeing the hickey on Ji Chao’s neck in the elevator had raised Shen Zhao’s suspicions.

Since leaving the Ji family at eighteen, Ji Chao hadn’t contacted her or even called her sister, so why would she share news about her boyfriend?

Unless it was to disgust Shen Zhao.

Later, Ji Chao deliberately exposed bruises on her waist and leaked Shen Zhao’s work whereabouts to Liang Jian.

Shen Zhao wasn’t surprised that Ji Chao was involved with Zhou Lin.

Zhang Yunshu wasn’t as calm as Shen Zhao. “What kind of loser was your ex? Cheating on his girlfriend’s cousin? Does he have no shame?”

Shen Zhao offered her a piece of salmon. “Calm down.”

Zhang Yunshu rolled up her sleeves. “If I see that pair of adulterers, I’ll make them regret it!”

Shen Zhao replied, “Better not provoke them.”

Zhang Yunshu said, “If you can’t handle it, can I? I’ve been in Beijing for so many years; was it all for nothing?”

Shen Zhao said nothing. She went to the front desk to pay the bill, returned to her seat, grabbed her bag, and just as she and Zhang Yunshu were about to leave, the door to the private room behind them opened.

Zhou Lin and Ji Chao emerged, one after the other.