Volume One, Chapter Five: You Have No Say in Whom I Seek

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Shen Zhao clenched her hand into a fist beside her, her nails digging into her flesh. Zhou Huaixu’s words were both a threat and a truth.

She had come to realize that this man was not only a pervert but also a madman—a cold machine utterly devoid of empathy.

He simply didn’t care how that night they spent together would affect Zhou Lin.

After saying those words, Zhou Huaixu took a step and headed home.

Shen Zhao stood alone, feeling the biting cold wind.

The building before her was luxurious and extravagant, while she wore a cheap dress—completely out of place here.

She walked out of the community gate.

At this hour, the subway was no longer running; she had to take a taxi.

As she reached the street corner, her eyes caught sight of a Porsche Cayenne parked not far away.

A closer look at the license plate confirmed it—it was Zhou Lin’s car.

Shen Zhao’s first instinct was to run.

But just as she took half a step, she noticed the car vibrating intensely, as if… it was moving in rhythm.

A chill ran through her heart, recalling the condom she had found in Zhou Lin’s car.

In the three years they had been together, Zhou Lin had many flirtations she couldn’t control, but she knew he had never been physically intimate with any of those women.

This was the only exception.

By some strange impulse, Shen Zhao moved closer to the Cayenne, trying to get around the front to see the woman’s face clearly.

At that moment, the rear door opened as she approached.

Zhou Lin stepped out, quickly closing the door behind him. Shen Zhao didn’t get a clear look inside but met Zhou Lin’s dark, piercing gaze.

His eyes burned like fire. “Zhao Zhao, what are you doing here?”

Shen Zhao pressed her lips together.

She couldn’t tell him the truth—that she had followed Zhou Huaixu.

She looked back at the Cayenne and demanded, “Is there someone else in your car?”

Zhou Lin’s almond-shaped eyes darkened slightly, and his gaze flickered.

Seizing the moment, Shen Zhao tried to open the car door.

But just as her hand reached out, Zhou Lin caught it. His expression was indifferent as he glanced at her—a look that for a moment overlapped with Zhou Huaixu’s face.

Shen Zhao was stunned.

Zhou Lin said, “Didn’t you break up with me? I’m single now. If I want to find someone else, it’s none of your business.”

Shen Zhao hesitated briefly, then curved her lips coldly and said calmly, “No, I won’t interfere.”

She wasn’t very interested anyway.

If she hadn’t run into this today, she wouldn’t have bothered disgusted herself again.

Shen Zhao asked, “The condom you left in the car a few days ago—was it with her?”

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Zhou Lin furrowed his brows, glancing inside the car.

He didn’t deny it.

Shen Zhao sneered, “Zhou Lin, thank you for thinking I’m filthy and not touching me! You’re just a garbage can yourself!”

All these years, she had never spoken harshly to Zhou Lin.

This was the first time.

Her voice trembled.

Zhou Lin met her reddened eyes and felt a pang in his heart. He couldn’t bear her speaking to him like this.

“You’re no better. If you were really clean, would you have slept with another man on the very day we broke up?”

Zhou Lin’s large hand tightened on Shen Zhao’s wrist.

His grip intensified as he spoke. Shen Zhao’s brows knitted slightly, her expression pained.

Zhou Lin released her, sighed deeply, then looked around and suddenly realized something. His voice darkened as he asked coldly,

“You still haven’t answered me—why are you here? Does that man live here?”

Shen Zhao replied, “You just said it yourself—we broke up. I’m single. You can’t control who I see.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Zhou Lin stood rooted, leaning against the car. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, his expression deep and contemplative.

Five minutes later, Zhou Lin returned to the car.

He said coldly to the woman in the back seat, who was already dressed, “Leave later. Don’t run into Shen Zhao.”

“Okay.”

The woman’s voice was cool and obedient.

Zhou Lin looked up. The rearview mirror reflected the woman’s clear, round eyes—much like Shen Zhao’s.

…

Early morning.

Huaze Corporation.

Shen Zhao entered the finance department where Ji Chao was alone.

Shen Zhao said, “Please send me the cash flow and audit details for the companies in the investment plan.”

Ji Chao didn’t even lift her eyelids. “I sent those to your department last week.”

Shen Zhao frowned but insisted, “No, I didn’t receive them.”

Ji Chao replied, “I sent them to Xiaoli in your department.”

Shen Zhao looked closely at her, her gaze sweeping over a bag on the desk—a new model from a luxury brand, priced in the six-figure range.

Suddenly, Ji Chao stood up, accidentally knocking some documents to the floor.

She bent down to pick them up.

Her top was short, revealing a slim waist with fresh, alarming pinch marks.

The marks were heavy—definitely from the previous night.

When Ji Chao straightened, she caught Shen Zhao’s steady gaze.

“Anything else?” she asked coolly.

Shen Zhao turned and left the finance department, returning to the investment department.

The department manager, Zhang Yunshu, asked, “Zhao Zhao, did the finance department send the data?”

Shen Zhao replied, “Accountant Ji said she sent it to Xiaoli.”

Xiaoli, who was furiously devouring her breakfast, was visibly upset. “The stuff she sent was garbage! I spent two days sorting it and found the data logic all wrong! I just reported it to Manager Zhang!”

Zhang Yunshu’s expression darkened but he said nothing more, only instructing Shen Zhao to print the materials needed for the upcoming meeting.

Shen Zhao didn’t expect that Zhou Huaixu would personally attend today’s meeting.

Zhou Huaixu had taken office a month ago.

There’s a saying about new leaders burning three fires at once, but in this month, the company had been calm and uneventful—no moves whatsoever.

Shen Zhao had seen Zhou Huaixu a few times at the company but only from a distance.

Today was her first time seeing him in such a formal setting.

Zhou Huaixu’s face was flawless.

Combined with his innate noble demeanor, born of a wealthy aristocratic family.

The moment he sat down, it was impossible not to notice him.

All the colleagues, male and female, couldn’t help but glance toward Zhou Huaixu, but Shen Zhao kept her eyes fixed on the report.

The meeting’s theme was Huaze’s investment direction for the next five years.

The marketing department wanted short-term investments—quick returns, flexible funds, high leverage.

Shen Zhao’s investment department advocated for long-term value investing.

She was the one reporting on this.

When she finished, Zhou Huaixu cast a faint glance at her proposed direction. His black eyes were deep and unreadable.

Shen Zhao quickly lowered her head.

Before, her dealings with Zhou Huaixu were outside the company and never about work—only personal matters between men and women. She was afraid, but the pressure wasn’t so intense.

Now, Zhou Huaixu sat seriously in the boss’s seat.

The pressure was overwhelming.

And he held the power over her professional fate.

Shen Zhao dared not breathe heavily.

The finance department began their report, broadly agreeing with marketing—they said the company’s cash flow was tight and unsuitable for long-term investments.

Shen Zhao instinctively stole a glance at Zhou Huaixu.