Chapter 47: Meeting This Little Girl

Although it was a summer night, the wind in the small hours still carried a trace of chill. The empty streets echoed with the roar of an engine, jarringly loud. Chu Chuo opened the convertible of his sports car, letting the night breeze scatter his hair as he pressed harder on the gas. The young model in the presidential suite was sound asleep, blissfully unaware that the man beside her had long since left.

At this moment, his expression was cool, his usual air of nonchalance subdued, replaced by indifference and fatigue. He parked the car beneath the bridge by the river, sat idly on the lawn, boredom etched into every line of his posture. The midnight stillness was absolute; not a soul was in sight, only a few boats drifting on the water. The changing lights of the bridge cast shifting patterns across his striking features.

He lit a cigarette casually and dialed a number on his phone.

“Heh, at this hour, Young Master Chu is usually busy making things happen,” came a cold male voice on the other end, his Mandarin soft but slightly unnatural.

Chu Chuo snorted, exhaling a smoke ring before speaking languidly, “Ling Ziheng has returned with a new assistant.”

“Oh? Found backup so quickly—how rare,” the other man sounded anything but surprised.

“Backup?” Chu Chuo stubbed out his cigarette, not quite grasping the point.

“You don’t need to understand,” the voice cut him off coolly. “Just do it the usual way. This director isn’t easy to handle, but I trust that if you step in, nothing will be beyond your reach.”

“Heh, you’re joking. Isn’t it just a kid?” Chu Chuo replied with disdain. Was it really necessary for him to deal with such small fry these days?

“Let me kindly remind you—it’s a girl.” The tone on the other end turned ambiguous.

Narrowing his eyes, Chu Chuo’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “How interesting. Since when has Ling Ziheng developed an interest in matters of the heart?”

“It’s just mutual exploitation. Be careful—this isn’t an ordinary connection, but it’s his last straw, a dying struggle at best,” the man’s voice grew chilling.

Chu Chuo shook his head and murmured, “Heh, you really don’t hold back.”

A sharp laugh rang out, grating against the night. “Young Master Chu, isn’t this what you want? Supreme status in the entertainment world, wielding power at will—doesn’t the thrill entice you? And all those delicate faces…”

Unfathomable emotions flickered in Chu Chuo’s eyes, but he responded, “Send me her information.”

“That’s more like it. To a fruitful partnership.” The man’s tone softened, and he ended the call.

On the other end, a tall, slender figure stood alone in the quiet of a grand castle, gazing out the window. The room was lavish, but he hadn’t bothered to turn on the lights, rendering the space dim and eerie in the night. He rested his hand on the window frame, a cold smile on his lips. Ling Ziheng, do you really think you can cling to this last straw? Sorry, but your final hope will be crushed in my grasp. Like ants in a glass, every desperate struggle only fills you with false hope before the end. No one can save you… Just wait for my blade to fall.

Leaning against his sports car, Chu Chuo waited. Soon, his phone rang.

Efficient, as always. If only everything could be handled this quickly, nothing would ever fail.

He glanced through a few photos and documents. His gaze lingered on the girl in the photos—she stood at a dock, looking into the distance, her figure slender and lacking in curves, which immediately dampened his interest.

But her vividly painted face was striking—a pair of luminous eyes seemed to harbor endless cleverness and mischief, her skin like porcelain, lips like a ripe peach, alluring enough to make one want to taste them.

In a world teeming with beauties, she was not extraordinary, just a naïve girl barely touched by the world. Judging by the look of her, she’d probably never been in love. She shouldn’t be hard to deceive. Still, she was a nobody, and any rash move might arouse Ling Ziheng’s suspicion.

Better to take it slow, and observe Ling Ziheng’s reaction. If she thought cross-dressing was a clever ruse, she was somewhat quick-witted, but with that madwoman around, the truth would come out sooner or later—saving him the trouble.

He had formed his plan. A smile spread across his lips as he got into his car and drove away.

Let’s see what this little girl is made of…

Back in the presidential suite, the young model stirred awake, fumbling in the dark before suddenly realizing the bed beside her was cold—Chu Chuo had left long ago.

She rose in disappointment, hurriedly pulling on a piece of clothing to cover the red marks on her skin. She had heard rumors that Chu Chuo never spent the night, but a part of her still hoped. Then her eyes caught sight of a check and a contract left on the table, and her spirits soared.

It seemed she had caught his eye; surely this would bring more opportunities. In this circle, money and status always outweighed love. She immediately picked up her phone, giddily gossiping with her fellow night owls, excitement written all over her face.

Lin Zhiwei returned home, jet-lagged and weary. Though it was nearly dawn, she felt no sleepiness. Scrolling through social media and sipping a cola, she sneezed so violently the drink sprayed all over her face.

Damn… Who’s cursing me at this hour…

She grumbled inwardly, an ominous feeling creeping over her in the dead of night. Never mind—it must be a sign from above to be extra cautious going forward.

Damn that Nanyu, dragging his feet and still not here. When he finally shows up, she was determined to cut off his milk tea for a few days as a lesson.