Volume One, Chapter Two: Threaten Me?

Behind her came the teasing laughter of a group of men and women—frivolous and grating—the usual scene at such pleasure venues.

Until the recording finished playing, Ye Zhaoying’s mind went blank, completely frozen. Over ten minutes passed before she finally comprehended what had just happened.

Fu Mingchi had cheated on her…

The man she had loved for three years, the one who promised to protect her forever and never change his heart, had lain with someone else.

Not only that, the claim that the company’s project had problems and that he couldn’t come up with the million to fulfill his prior investment promise was also a lie.

Fu Mingchi had never believed he could run the studio well. He never trusted his own abilities—all of it was a façade.

At that moment, Ye Zhaoying wished with all her heart that the inexplicable recording was fake.

But she had been with Fu Mingchi for three whole years—how could she mistake his voice?

Yet, she clung to a final sliver of hope. Not long ago, Fu Mingchi had just bid her good night. What if he was at home now?

She quickly placed a video call to Fu Mingchi. It took a long time before he answered, and then the call switched to voice only.

“Baby, you’re not asleep yet?”

His voice was gentle but slurred, unmistakably drunk.

Her heart sank, and she clenched her right hand. “I was about to sleep. What about you? What are you doing? Why did you switch from video to voice?”

“I’m already asleep. The room’s dark. You wouldn’t see me on video anyway, so I figured voice was simpler…”

“Fu Mingchi, why are you out…” A sweet, syrupy female voice interrupted from the other end.

Ye Zhaoying’s phone slipped onto the bed. Her breath caught, and tears instantly flooded her eyes.

It was confirmed—Fu Mingchi had truly cheated.

Through tear-blurred eyes, she looked at the screen, her voice low and hoarse. “Whose voice was that?”

Fu Mingchi hadn’t expected Qin Lulu to suddenly butt in. He quickly gave a signal to have her leave.

He hurried to explain, “Baby, that was my cousin. She just returned to the country and is staying with me for a few days. I hope you don’t mind?”

His question was cautious, as if genuinely afraid she would be jealous or hurt. But Ye Zhaoying found it deeply ironic.

Why had he never once thought about these things when he was cheating?

Her bitter smile twisted. “Your cousin? How could I possibly mind?”

Fu Mingchi breathed a sigh of relief and asked with concern, “Why does your voice sound hoarse? Are you feeling unwell?”

His caring words only deepened Ye Zhaoying’s pain; even breathing hurt. Fighting back her emotions, she replied quickly, “It’s nothing, maybe just a cold. I’ll rest a bit.”

Fu Mingchi grew more worried. “A cold? Do you have medicine at home? Should I bring some over?”

Ye Zhaoying shook her head. “No need. I have medicine here. You should rest early too. I’ll hang up now…”

Without waiting for his reply, she hung up swiftly. The next moment, she couldn’t hold back her sobs, breaking into a full cry.

It was real. Fu Mingchi had really been unfaithful. He had been deceiving her all along.

She collapsed on the bed, overwhelmed by pain and struggling to breathe, unable to accept the truth.

That night, Ye Zhaoying drifted through a haze of thoughts, replaying every moment of the past three years with Fu Mingchi.

The sunsets they watched together, the rain they stood in…

His smile, his beautiful eyes, every expression of his…

His passionate confessions whispered in her ear—that he loved only her for life…

Amidst her heart-wrenching agony, she finally grasped one undeniable truth: Fu Mingchi was no longer her support. Like everyone else, he never believed she would succeed. She could only rely on herself.

Men could not be counted on.

Only by mastering her career and status could she stand invincible.

Right now, all she had was this studio…

Determined, Ye Zhaoying rose early the next morning, tidied up, and took her documents to Lu Corporation Venture Capital to find Lu Jingchen.

As the largest enterprise in S City, Lu Corporation’s headquarters was a towering skyscraper.

With her current status, she knew she couldn’t meet Lu Jingchen through official channels. Offering the security guard five hundred yuan, she slipped into the underground parking lot to wait for Lu Jingchen.

From morning until nightfall, she saw no sign of him.

Just as Ye Zhaoying was about to give up, two men in black suits emerged from the elevator.

The taller one in front was slender and upright, striding with purpose. The sound of his polished shoes striking the floor was like raindrops piercing the heart.

As they drew closer, Chu Yingxi recognized the face.

Sharp features, pale skin, chiseled contours like carved stone, and jet-black eyes that, under the light, resembled a moonlit pool—cold and mysterious.

This exquisite, ethereal face was like a flower blooming atop a snowy peak—beautiful, enigmatic, and dangerous.

It inspired both intense longing and fear.

Years apart had only amplified Lu Jingchen’s aura.

But Ye Zhaoying had no time for such thoughts. She knew this was her last and only chance. She could not miss it.

Hiding behind a pillar, she saw them approach and dashed forward, shouting hoarsely, “Lu Jingchen!”

The two men immediately stopped, alert. Lu Jingchen’s brow furrowed, his eyes gleaming coldly like a sharp blade aimed at the sudden intruder.

But when he recognized who it was, his expression shifted quickly, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

“Who is it?”

His assistant swiftly stepped forward, blocking Ye Zhaoying like a wall.

Lu Jingchen’s face remained cold and indifferent, but a trace of strange emotion flickered beneath his gaze. His voice was as chilly as ever.

“Ye Zhaoying, what do you want?”

Blocked by the assistant, she could only shout from three meters away, “President Lu, I want to talk to you about a guaranteed profitable deal!”

Lu Jingchen raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. “A guaranteed profitable deal?”

Sensing opportunity, Ye Zhaoying hurried on, “President Lu, may I have a word in private?”

Lu Jingchen gave the assistant a look, and the man immediately stepped aside.

“In the car,” Lu Jingchen said, leading the way inside.

Inside the confined space with Lu Jingchen, Ye Zhaoying wasted no time and handed over her prepared documents.

“If you invest a million, I guarantee you will recoup your investment within a year, and profits will follow.”

Lu Jingchen flipped through the papers with long-fingered hands, then looked up at Ye Zhaoying, a smile playing at his lips.

“So, you’re seeking investment? I’m not interested in small ventures like this.”

Lu Jingchen was still the same—blunt and unyielding.

Ye Zhaoying knew it was time to play her trump card.

“Then, President Lu, are you interested in this?”

She took out her phone and showed him a photo.

The moment Lu Jingchen saw it, his expression darkened ominously. His eyes narrowed, radiating a dangerous aura.

“Are you threatening me?”