Chapter 6
Late at night, all was silent.
The curtains were left slightly ajar, allowing moonlight to slip through the gap and split the room’s darkness in two.
In the bedroom, so quiet it felt terrifying, an oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.
Beer cans were scattered everywhere on the floor, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of alcohol, exuding a despair that struck fear into the heart.
The man sat on the ground, leaning against the corner of the wall, like a puddle of mud, merging seamlessly with the dark night.
Alcohol is a wonderful thing; once drunk, the suppressed emotions in one’s heart seem to find an outlet.
On many nights, Gu Yi would often recall events from before he turned seventeen, but never had they felt so vivid yet so… distant as they did at this moment.
Gu Yi didn’t know how he had spent these past seven years. Subconsciously, he believed Lin Zhi would return, thinking their separation was merely the result of a quarrel, a minor disagreement that had simply lasted too long. Yet, he held onto the hope that someday, they would reconcile and let go of all past grievances.
But seven years later, she returned, shattering the ridiculous “self-righteousness” he had clung to all those years.
That year at the airport, the woman stood calmly before him, suitcase in hand; only his eyes were bloodshot.
He asked her, “Are you abandoning me?”
She replied, “Yes.”
That was his most humiliating moment, one that remained etched in his memory to this day.
Gu Yi had never believed her answer. Even though she had changed every means of contact, even though they hadn’t seen each other for years, he still thought it was merely Lin Zhi acting on impulse.
After all… she was Lin Zhi.
The very same Lin Zhi who had stood by his side for more than ten years!
Everyone who knew them back then said Lin Zhi was desperately in love with him, and even he believed it to be true.
A slightly paranoid possessiveness, an extraordinary need for control…
She never missed a moment to whisper in his ear, “You are mine.”
Yet it was this very Lin Zhi who, one sudden day, as if abruptly awakened, cast him aside.
The man’s tightly closed eyes quietly opened, his half-lidded pupils carrying an indescribable chill.
The madman has awakened, leaving the one who should never have gone mad now lost to insanity.
Dragging his exhausted body, Gu Yi pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped on Lin Zhi’s WeChat profile picture.
Lin Zhi’s Moments were remarkably clean—no selfies, no petty complaints.
She was never one to complain; decisiveness defined her character. Even as a child, she possessed a maturity far beyond her peers, and leveraging the three-year age gap between them, she always acted like an adult, micromanaging every aspect of his life.
Back then, he resented her constraints more than anything, yet all it took was a single glance from her for him to surrender completely.
Gu Yi casually scrolled through her WeChat moments, reaching the bottom in just a few swipes.
WeChat wasn’t widely used in the United States, and this account appeared to have been created only recently.
His fingertips finally rested on the input box, yet no further action followed for a long while.
No one knew how much time had passed before the man finally tossed his black-screened phone onto the floor, picked up the wine bottle again, and took another heavy swig…
.
The next day, the hashtag #GuYiIsAwesome# still ranked high on the trending list.
Meanwhile, netizens dragged out every dramatic moment from last night’s awards ceremony to savor and dissect once more.
Many artists seized the moment to buy trending topics, stir up buzz, and ride the wave of traffic; naturally, Zhao Yu was no exception.
Lin Zhi had been seated by the organizers in a relatively prominent position, with Zhao Yu sitting beside her. Throughout the entire event, he managed to appear in two or three camera shots. His agent cleverly capitalized on this, avoiding direct praise of his looks. Instead, they selected a few photos where he appeared slightly reserved, photoshopped the word “obedient” onto them, and let the images speak for themselves.
With approval from higher-ups, Zhao Yu’s agent held nothing back. When drafting the promotional press release, they boldly leveraged Lin Zhi’s identity for hype, launching the hashtag #WhenSittingBesideTheBoss#. This campaign crafted an image of Zhao Yu as “humble and obedient,” creating a striking contrast with his usual persona.
Compared to other trending topics praising appearance and achievements, Zhao Yu’s approach was a refreshing breeze. Even the hashtag itself did not include his name.
This trending topic was purchased with such finesse that it slipped onto the last few spots unnoticed, yet thanks to the slightly comical photo and the public’s resonance, it forcefully broke into the top ten.
[Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter! This reaction is just too real!]
[Unbelievable. It reminds me of sitting next to my boss during a meeting, where I was so terrified I was afraid to breathe too loudly.]
[I can feel Zhizai’s despair right through the screen, hahahahahaha!]
[Is it just me, or does Zhao Yu’s boss look way too beautiful?]
[Holy crap, what kind of otherworldly beauty is Zai Zai’s boss?? I’m sold!!]
…
The comment section exploded. It wasn’t until Chen Rui informed her that Lin Zhi realized she had somehow landed on the trending searches.
Actually, when someone first mentioned Lin Zhi in the comments section, Zhao Yu’s agent immediately reported it to Chen Rui. Since Lin Zhi had previously indicated that leveraging her identity as ‘Shengjia’s CEO’ for positive publicity was acceptable, Chen Rui hadn’t thought much of it.
However, once the hashtag #NewCEOofShengjia# appeared on the trending search list, Chen Rui began to sense that matters had escalated beyond expectations. He promptly grabbed his tablet and hurried to the CEO’s office to seek Lin Zhi’s instructions.
Chen Rui knew well that his CEO, Lin, was breathtakingly beautiful, yet he understood even better her preference for staying out of the spotlight. Now, with netizens stirring up such a commotion, he found himself at a loss about how to proceed.
As expected, upon seeing the trending topic, Lin Zhi’s expression grew noticeably colder. After scrolling through it for roughly five or six minutes, she silently handed the tablet back to Chen Rui.
“Pull back. Steer the public discourse toward Zhao Yu as much as possible. From now on, do not link any marketing campaigns to me.”
Historically, there has never been any benefit for artists to be associated with their bosses in the media. While a single promotional stunt might generate ample buzz, repeating it too often yields diminishing returns and easily invites suspicions of behind-the-scenes scandals like ‘casting couch’ arrangements.
In truth, Lin Zhi had never anticipated that a single photograph would propel her onto the trending searches.
Yet, it is undeniable that beyond Lin Zhi’s striking looks, her identity as the CEO of Sheng Jia is what most netizens find particularly fascinating. After all, she is a female executive, young, and breathtakingly beautiful—a configuration reminiscent of the heroine in a wish-fulfillment romance novel. How could such a figure fail to cause a sensation?
The commotion online was, at most, mere entertainment for idle onlookers; there was really no need to spend extra money to suppress the trending topic.
But clearly, beyond ordinary netizens, other forces had already begun to act. Beneath the trending hashtag, Gu Yi’s name was starting to surface subtly—the signs were faint, yet unmistakably the work of paid trolls.
During yesterday’s banquet encounter, Lin Zhi had avoided engaging in lengthy conversation with Gu Yi precisely because she feared malicious individuals might exploit such interactions to weave their schemes.
Now that Gu Yi was at the peak of his fame, he naturally obstructed many people’s paths; every move he made could potentially become ammunition for those seeking to tarnish his reputation. This was especially true given that yesterday, it had been Gu Yi himself who had taken the initiative to approach and greet her.
A slight headache plagued her. Lin Zhi had just finished instructing Chen Rui and was about to dismiss him when the office door was suddenly thrown open with force—
A man dressed in flamboyant colors stormed in, fury etched on his face, trailed by a trembling, anxious assistant.
“I’m sorry, President Lin, I couldn’t stop him…” Before the man could utter a word, the assistant hastily apologized.
Lin Zhi lifted her gaze to the intruder. Her glance was casual, tinged with an indifference that clearly showed she didn’t think much of him, instantly flushing Lin Hongguang’s face crimson.
The moment the other party appeared, Chen Rui’s face instantly darkened. He was just about to open his mouth to mock them when he heard his own CEO speak up:
“You two may leave first.”
Though reluctant, Chen Rui still obeyed President Lin’s instruction and departed the office together with the junior assistant. The vast space suddenly held only Lin Zhi and Lin Hongguang.
“Lin Zhi! What do you mean by this?!”
Lin Hongguang never could have imagined that after simply taking a vacation, he would return to the company only to find his office inexplicably emptied?! The person sitting in what should have been his executive chair was someone he didn’t recognize at all?!
Although he had previously heard rumors about the change in leadership at Shengjia, Lin Hongguang considered himself a veteran of the company. Even if the newcomer was the CEO, a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake; surely, the other party would need to weigh their own capabilities before making a move against him.
Yet now, he was suddenly informed that his stronghold had been raided and stripped bare! His official position was gone! The new CEO had shown Lin Hongguang not an ounce of respect, sweeping him straight out the door!
Lin Hongguang had never experienced such humiliation in his entire life! After questioning the employees in his department, he learned that this new President Lin was actually Lin Zhi. Enraged, he immediately rushed upstairs, prepared to confront this ‘cousin’ and demand answers.
Lin Hongguang is only thirty this year. He assumed the position of Vice President at Shengjia immediately after graduation and has now served in that role for exactly seven years.
The benefits for Shengjia’s upper echelons are substantial; Lin Hongguang has been pampered into a slick, well-groomed appearance, clad head to toe in designer brands, making him a coveted target for countless women wherever he goes.
But Lin Zhi knows the truth: since becoming Shengjia’s Vice President, Lin Hongguang has never accomplished anything substantive. Either he uses his position to harass female stars within the company, or he exploits his authority to accept bribes. Indeed, Shengjia’s current dire state is largely attributable to his contributions. Most of the artists signed under contracts riddled with scandals, excessive plastic surgery, and vulgar aesthetics are essentially Lin Hongguang’s handiwork.
Lin Hongguang is lustful; satisfy him in bed, and gaining entry into Shengjia becomes as simple as uttering a single sentence.
Even with Lin Hongguang’s conduct, the previous president had chosen to turn a blind eye. Though that predecessor was cut from much the same cloth, what truly emboldened Lin Hongguang likely went beyond mere ‘mutual assistance’ among kindred spirits.
“What? Does Vice President Lin feel that two months’ salary as compensation is insufficient?”
Lin Zhi spoke slowly as she rose from her chair. The moment their eyes met at level height, Lin Hongguang felt an overwhelming pressure wash over him.
Lin Hongguang was not tall, standing at most one meter seventy-five, while Lin Zhi herself reached one meter seventy in bare feet. Now, elevated by her high heels, the look she cast upon Lin Hongguang carried an unmistakable air of condescension.
“I almost forgot… the current Vice President Lin is no longer just a vice president.” Lin Zhi curled the corner of her lips, and in an instant, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, causing Lin Hongguang’s breath to catch. His flushed face immediately turned ashen.
“L-Lin Zhi, on what grounds are you firing me?!”
For the past seven years, Lin Hongguang had fully enjoyed the perks of being Shengjia’s Vice President—beautiful women to sleep with and money to take. Now, being told to “get out” felt like falling from heaven straight into hell overnight.
“On what grounds? I am the CEO; you are an employee. Do you think I need your permission to fire you?” As Lin Zhi spoke, she placed both hands on the desk, unleashing an overwhelming presence in an instant. That crushing aura made Lin Hongguang instinctively step back.
Lin Hongguang’s face was grim, yet he feigned composure, stiffening his neck as he continued to resist. “Lin Zhi, did you get the board’s approval before firing me?!”
A ripple of mocking laughter echoed through the office. Although she had long suspected that her dear uncle had a hand in the deal when Shengjia was sold to the Z·L Group seven years ago, it was still absurd that Lin Hongguang would now wield that old transaction as a shield. One couldn’t tell whether to call him foolish or pitiable.
Those old fossils within the Z·L Group had long intended to discard Shengjia; it was she who had taken on this mess, wagering three percent of her shares to do so. Now that Shengjia obeyed her every command without question, why would those people care about a scoundrel like Lin Hongguang?
“Lin Hongguang, I advise you to leave Shengjia with some dignity while I’m still in a good mood. Otherwise…” Lin Zhi’s eyes darkened, the slight curve of her lips flattening instantly, “…all the dirty deeds you’ve committed over these years will no longer remain hidden.”
The man’s pupils contracted sharply, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his temple. His lips trembled slightly, yet he found himself utterly unable to offer any rebuttal.
After stammering incoherently for what felt like an eternity, Lin Hongguang finally gritted his teeth and spat out, “Lin Zhi, you and Gu Yi are truly cut from the same cloth—both of you are beasts! Just you wait; I won’t let either of you off easily!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the man in the floral shirt turned and fled the office, resembling a rooster beaten into a shameful retreat, utterly disgraced.
Watching the direction in which Lin Hongguang had disappeared, Lin Zhi’s brows knitted tightly together. His parting words echoed in her ears, causing her gaze to suddenly grow far more complex.
…Gu Yi?