Chapter 761: Zhang Yaqian? Lin Daiyu!
President Ling was lying sideways on the luxurious sofa, a single strand of dark hair caught between her lips. A captivating blush had crept up from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, a stark contrast to her usual icy demeanor that only served to make her appear even more exquisitely beautiful, a cold and peerless goddess brought down to earth.
At that moment, her left leg was extended straight, while her right foot was slightly hooked, aiming a kick toward Shen Anyu. It was clear he had incensed her beyond measure. The kick itself lacked any real force, but in her agitated state, she had left herself completely exposed—a gaping vulnerability.
With the First Young Master's strength as a Land Immortal, seizing such an opening to deliver a decisive blow would have been as easy as breathing.
But just then, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Ling Qingcheng, you… you're actually with Brother Shen?!"
Zhang Yaqian stood at the entrance to the President's private lounge, her face ashen. Her normally clear and captivating, star-like eyes were now clouded with a look of utter misery and pain. She clutched at her chest, her breath catching as if the agony in her heart was making it impossible to breathe.
The man she loved most and her very best friend… entangled together.
What heart wouldn't shatter at such a sight?
The flush on Ling Qingcheng's beautiful face instantly drained away, replaced by a stark white. Her mind went completely blank.
Her worst fear had just become a reality, and it was even more horrifying than she had ever imagined—she had been caught, in the act, by Zhang Yaqian herself.
A strange light flickered in Shen Anyu's eyes. He knew, of course, that Zhang Yaqian was putting on a performance. After all, she was the one behind the wild ginseng and black chicken tonic soup.
She had orchestrated this entire scene.
He was quite curious to see what she would do next.
"Yaqian, no, it's not what you think. Shen Anyu and I…" Ling Qingcheng stammered, her voice feeble as she tried to explain. But as she met Zhang Yaqian's tear-filled gaze, the words died in her throat.
Guilt, shame, regret, and frustration—a torrent of emotions crashed down upon her, forcing the famously strong and beautiful President of the Ling Group to finally bow her proud head.
"Yaqian, I'm sorry…"
Ling Qingcheng didn't try to shift the blame to Shen Anyu. She knew, deep down, that she hadn't truly refused him. In fact, a part of her had been completely immersed in their dangerous dance.
Tap, tap, tap!
The soft, deliberate click of high heels echoed on the polished floor.
Zhang Yaqian walked toward them.
Ling Qingcheng's heart seized in her chest. She held her breath, bracing herself for whatever was to come. How would Yaqian deal with her?
Would she slap her? Scream at her? No, the gentle and kind Zhang Yaqian she knew would never do something like that.
And yet, Ling Qingcheng almost wished she would. A slap, a furious tirade—anything would be better than this suffocating silence. It might even make her feel a little less wretched.
But in the next moment, Zhang Yaqian did something entirely unexpected. She reached out and gently clasped Ling Qingcheng's hands in her own.
"I'm just a naive, simple, and uninteresting little girl who doesn't understand anything," Zhang Yaqian said softly, her voice laced with a tragic air. "How could I ever compare to you, Qingcheng? You have peerless beauty and the talent to manage the entire Ling Group. You're praised by people from all walks of life in Hangzhou. Even my daddy often tells me to learn from you…"
Hearing this, Ling Qingcheng felt a fresh wave of shame wash over her, mixed with a deep confusion. Why was Yaqian saying all this?
She secretly risked a glance at Zhang Yaqian's face, only to find her expression was surprisingly calm. There was little anger or sadness, just a faint trace of resentment and a deep, poetic melancholy etched between her brows.
"Yaqian, I'm so sorry…"
"Qingcheng, listen to me."
"…Okay." Ling Qingcheng agreed, her heart pounding with trepidation.
But Zhang Yaqian's next words left her utterly stunned.
"Brother Shen is so outstanding. Only someone equally outstanding, like you, Qingcheng, could ever be worthy of him. You are a match made in heaven. If I had known this earlier, I would have withdrawn on my own. It would have saved you and Brother Shen the trouble, and I wouldn't have become such a nuisance."
"This way is good, too. Like the golden wind meeting the jade dew, you have both found your rightful place. Qingcheng, from this day forward, I solemnly entrust Brother Shen to you. You must take good care of him. Don't let him suffer any grievances…"
"I… I wish you both happiness…"
As she spoke, Zhang Yaqian took Ling Qingcheng's small hand and placed it into Shen Anyu's larger one. She gave Shen Anyu one last, reluctant look with her beautiful, watery eyes, then turned and fled from the room.
In that final moment, Ling Qingcheng saw the tiny, glistening tears that had welled in Zhang Yaqian's eyes finally spill over, as if she could no longer contain her sorrow.
Shen Anyu was also dumbfounded. He had suspected Zhang Yaqian was acting, but this performance was on another level. Was she truly saying goodbye? The air of a spurned maiden, the sorrow that seemed to eclipse all hope—it was all perfectly captured. He doubted even the renowned Heavenly Queen Zhong Lingyin could have delivered a more convincing performance.
"Yaqian!" Ling Qingcheng cried out as the reality of the situation crashed down on her. Her expression twisted with alarm, and she tried to chase after her friend, but her legs were numb and weak. She stumbled, nearly falling off the sofa.
"Shen Anyu, why are you just standing there? Go after her!" President Ling bit her red lip, her gaze a volatile mix of shame, anger, and indignation as she glared at him. "If anything happens to Yaqian, I… I will never forgive you!"
"Alright. I'll be sure to bring her back," Shen Anyu said with a light nod before turning to pursue her.
'Yaqian, you have to be okay…' Ling Qingcheng thought, her gaze fixed worriedly on the empty doorway, her mind a chaotic mess.
…
With Shen Anyu's speed, he caught up to Zhang Yaqian at the elevator in moments. He had been planning to offer a few words of comfort.
But just as he was about to speak, Zhang Yaqian spun around and threw herself into his arms.
"Brother Shen," she chirped, a playful smile blooming on her face. "Was my acting any good? I had to watch over a dozen episodes of Dream of the Red Chamber downstairs while I was waiting for you. It took forever."
Shen Anyu looked down at her. Though her eyes were still slightly red and misty, her pure, beautiful face showed no trace of sadness or pain. There was only a sly cleverness and a touch of smugness, as if she were a kitten demanding praise for a successful hunt.
"…"
Shen Anyu was speechless. No wonder she had looked so much like the tragic heroine Lin Daiyu just now, speaking with such a refined, sorrowful air. It turned out she had been cramming for the role by watching TV on the spot.
Shen Anyu couldn't help but chuckle. "You gave Qingcheng and me quite a scare. We really thought something had happened to you."
"Hmph." Zhang Yaqian snorted softly, rolling her star-like eyes at him. "You're the big scoundrel here, Brother Shen, secretly getting involved with Qingcheng behind my back."
"And Qingcheng is bad, too," she pouted. "She knew you were my boyfriend, but she didn't refuse you."
"So you decided to play a prank on us?" Shen Anyu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The prank was part of it," she admitted, her eyes twinkling as she smiled brightly. "But the other part was to help you, Brother Shen."
"Qingcheng and I have been friends for over ten years; I know she isn't that kind of person. She must have been corrupted by you, Brother Shen."
The corner of Shen Anyu's mouth twitched. So, he was the villain of the piece? He decided not to argue the point.
Zhang Yaqian's small face grew serious as she continued, "You must be in a difficult position, too, Brother Shen. Qingcheng can't get past that hurdle in her heart, which makes it hard for her to be with you."
Shen Anyu nodded lightly. It was true. Even after he had saved her, and after all their moments of intimacy, Ling Qingcheng's favorability score was stuck at 89. It couldn't break through the 90-point barrier precisely because she couldn't bring herself to betray Zhang Yaqian.
"Brother Shen, I can help you win the fair lady's heart. In fact," she said, putting on a shy expression, "if you wanted me and Qingcheng to… serve you together in the future, that would be fine, too."
"Yaqian, you're really too good to me, aren't you?" Shen Anyu said, a smile playing in his eyes.
"Of course! I love you the most, Brother Shen," Zhang Yaqian declared, looking up at him with adoration shining in her starry eyes. "I'm willing to do anything for you."
She added a final sentence in the silence of her own heart.
'But if Brother Shen doesn't want me, if he ever abandons me… I will go crazy and destroy the entire world.'
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