Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Whether in the throes of drunken passion last night or lost in his dreams, the man had called out the same name over and over.

Zhi Zhi.

Xia Wanzhi.

Sun Lingzhi clenched her fingertips. Feeling the man’s embrace tighten around her, she pressed her hand against his chest in response. “I’m here. I won’t leave.”

She knew the person Zhou Yu was calling for wasn’t her.

The only reason she had ever received any attention from Zhou Yu was that her name shared a character with his fiancée’s.

It was precisely because of this that she had been able to crawl into his bed and become his first woman while he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, caught in a haze of heartbreak and desire.

Zhou Yu was surrounded by friends who lived hedonistic lifestyles, yet within the circles of the wealthy elite, he was a paragon of virtue.

He accompanied his friends to all sorts of venues, but even when people sent women to his room-offering him blatant temptation-he remained unmoved.

Everyone in their circle said he was saving himself for love.

Saving himself for his fiancée.

Saving himself for Xia Wanzhi.

With reddened eyes, Sun Lingzhi tilted her head back to look at the man holding her so tightly.

So what if he loved Xia Wanzhi that much?

She was the one who had shared pleasure with him several times; she was the one who had been intimate with him; she was the one currently held in his arms.

It was her, Sun Lingzhi.

What did it matter if she was a substitute? As long as he couldn’t have Xia Wanzhi, there would always be a place for a substitute like her by his side.

After a while, perhaps awakened by the sound of rain outside the window, Zhou Yu suddenly bolted upright. Once he saw Sun Lingzhi’s face clearly, he endured a pounding headache as he slowly regained his senses.

Clothes were scattered all over the floor. As the quilt slipped down and he felt the chill of the morning light, Zhou Yu shot a sideways glance at the shy, seductive woman beside him and barked, “Get out!”

Zhou Yu clutched his splitting head. Once he had composed himself, he threw back the covers, got out of bed, and began picking up his discarded clothes.

“Young Master Zhou…” Sun Lingzhi called out to him with a sob. She knelt on the bed and grabbed his hand, lowering herself to beg, “Please don’t drive me away. I’ll stay by your side quietly. I promise I won’t cause any trouble.”

“You think you’re worthy?” Zhou Yu’s memory of the previous night was a complete blank; he had already forgotten whatever nonsense he might have said to this woman.

“But you need me, don’t you?” Sun Lingzhi took a gamble, looking firmly into Zhou Yu’s eyes. “Whatever you like about Miss Xia, I can learn. I can learn it all…”

In an instant, the moment she uttered the surname “Xia,” Zhou Yu lunged back and seized her by the throat. His hungover eyes cleared instantly, a trace of bloodshot rage surfacing in them.

He humiliated her, saying, “Imitate her? What kind of thing are you to think you’re worthy of imitating her? Look at your pathetic, lowly posture-is there even a hint of her shadow in you?”

It wasn’t until Sun Lingzhi began to struggle violently for breath that Zhou Yu let go and shoved her away. “She would never lower herself before me. She never begs me, and she certainly never cries in front of me.”

Having said that, he let out a cold laugh and grabbed Sun Lingzhi’s palm, pressing it against his own cheek. “Do you know what she would do right now?”

Sun Lingzhi looked up tremblingly. “What…”

“She would slap me.” Zhou Yu smiled wickedly, his eyes locked onto Sun Lingzhi’s. “She would give me a hard slap across the face.”

“Didn’t you want to learn from her? Go on then, learn. Do you dare?”

*Slap!*

The sound of the slap echoing in her ears brought an end to his laughter.

The air seemed to freeze instantly. Sun Lingzhi could no longer feel the stinging in her palm as she watched Zhou Yu’s reaction with her heart in her throat.

Zhou Yu was mad.

And she was mad too.

After a brief moment, Zhou Yu turned his head back from where it had been snapped to the side. He stared at Sun Lingzhi for a few seconds before suddenly breaking into uncontrollable, wild laughter. He stepped forward, grabbed Sun Lingzhi’s hand, and pressed it back against his face. “That’s it! That’s it! Come on, hit me again!”
“Slap him again! Hahaha-”

–

The rain finally cleared up in the afternoon. As the gloomy curtain of rain dispersed, the sky instantly turned a brilliant azure.

Staying at the Studio was only a temporary measure; Xia Wanzhi needed to find a house as soon as possible.

At this moment, three advisors sat around the table in the reception room, offering Xia Wanzhi all sorts of advice. Everyone had different ideas, and after a long session of chatter and debate, they still hadn’t settled on a place.

Xie Tan pointed at one of the listings with righteous conviction. “This one is great! It’s luxurious and grand. Sister Wanzi will definitely like it!”

Yun Li huffed and swiped the tablet two pages to the left. “Your Sister Wanzi is living by herself, she’s not buying a marital home. What does she need such a big house for? Listen to me, this small loft is enough.”

Zhuzi spoke up coolly, “With this location, she probably can’t afford the rent.”

Xie Tan shouted domineeringly, “I’ll help Sister Wanzi rent it! Let’s get this one, it has floor-to-ceiling windows!”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

Everyone present knew that Xia Wanzhi’s one true love was floor-to-ceiling windows.

They were practically her lifeblood.

“Why are you all looking at me?” Noticing their unanimous gaze, Xia Wanzhi shrugged, too lazy to think.

Yun Li picked up a piece of candy from the table and tossed it at her. “Who else would we look at? We’re not the ones renting the house.”

Zhuzi smiled. “Come on, tell us. Which one caught your eye?”

Xia Wanzhi flipped through the options back and forth several times. Just as she was about to answer, Zhuzi let out a couple of humphs.

“Go ahead, say it. Say it so you can finally give up on the idea.”

Xia Wanzhi’s expression instantly soured into a gloom. “…”

Xie Tan cleared her throat like a little adult. After moistening her throat, she hopped off her chair, circled behind Xia Wanzhi to give her a hug, and said thoughtfully, “These houses are all so expensive. Sister Wanzi, why don’t you use your reliable connections? Find a big house in a good location and have them give you a discount.”

Yun Li crossed her arms, teasing, “Oh? Our Little Girl even knows about connections.”

Xie Tan swiped her thumb across her nose, answering proudly, “Of course.”

Xia Wanzhi laughed despite herself, taking hold of Xie Tan’s hands which were draped around her neck. “And where are these connections?”

“How much of a discount?” Zhuzi was more focused on the main point.

Xie Tan patted her chest. “A bone-breaking discount!”

The question had been dodged. Xia Wanzhi sensed something was up and turned around to give Xie Tan a meaningful look.

The Little Girl had come uninvited, claiming she wanted to help find a house. There was definitely a scheme afoot.

“Ahem…” Xie Tan didn’t dare meet Xia Wanzhi’s eyes. She scratched her neck and said, “Grandpa said you should either move back home to live with us, or you have to accept the house he found for you.”

Xie Tan squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out in one go, “Sister Wanzi, don’t worry, it’s not free! You don’t have to feel embarrassed. Just move in with peace of mind!”

Xia Wanzhi felt herself wavering under Xie Tan’s vivid performance.

Her resolve wasn’t that strong to begin with, and the two advisors beside her had already been swayed to Xie Tan’s side, encouraging her to agree.

With a sigh, Xia Wanzhi relented. “Where is the house, how much is the rent? Take me to see it when you have time.”

Xie Tan jumped up, making a victory sign. “Yay! I’ll ask right away.”

Under the watchful eyes of the three, Xie Tan tapped a few times on her smartwatch. Just as she was about to dial, she suddenly realized something and gave a sheepish grin. “I think I’ll go back and ask in person.”

Yun Li took a sip of water, suppressing a smile as if she had guessed something. She waved her hand. “Go on then, we won’t see you out.”

Xia Wanzhi felt uneasy under Yun Li’s stare. “What are you looking at me for?”

Yun Li put on an air of profound mystery. “I’ve just done a reading. Your benefactor is coming to rescue you on a path of auspicious clouds.”

And that benefactor’s name was Benefactor Xie.

Xia Wanzhi: “…”