Princess Syndrome - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Blood

Upon entering, she noticed someone following closely behind. Zhang Ting called out, "Assistant Su."

She turned her head and saw Zhang Ting. She heard her ask, "Who was that just now?"

She had only seen Su Lingyue talking to someone, but hadn't clearly seen who it was. Thinking it might be a friend of Su Lingyue who could join them, Su Lingyue said, "Yang Zhizhi's assistant."

Zhang Ting let out a surprised "Oh," and said, "Yang Zhizhi is here too?"

Su Lingyue replied, "Not sure."

Zhang Ting nodded knowingly. The others also walked in one after another. Seeing the two talking, someone asked, "What are you chatting about?"

"Saying we just saw Yang Zhizhi's assistant," Zhang Ting said. "Have a seat, Secretary Wu said she'll be here soon, told us to order first."

"Yang Zhizhi?" Secretary Li said, "She's eating here too? By the way, has her endorsement been finalized?"

Everyone looked towards Su Lingyue.

Su Lingyue raised her head, meeting everyone's gaze. Her expression was calm as she said, "Still in negotiations."

Sure enough, still Assistant Su.

Just like at the company.

So cold, so stifling, so expressionless.

However, the others weren't surprised. Perhaps after working with Su Lingyue at the company, they were used to her personality, so they didn't hold back their words and started chatting about other topics. When Wu Meiyan arrived in the private room, everyone was discussing which cosmetics were good recently. Su Lingyue was sitting in the innermost seat, looking down at her phone. She had been at the branch for a considerable time, but had always stayed in the design department. Sometimes she didn't even come to the company and hadn't been upstairs. If it weren't for the possibility of resigning, this dinner gathering might not have happened.

But the fact that this gathering was proposed showed that the current colleagues still liked her.

Wu Meiyan walked in. The other secretaries saw her and got up to offer her a seat. "Secretary Wu, over here."

She smiled, "I'll sit here, easier to reach the dishes."

Saying this, she sat next to Su Lingyue.

Her care for Su Lingyue was quite obvious. Everyone noticed it from the first day Su Lingyue entered the president's office. It was also because of this that, unlike other departments, they were very accommodating towards Su Lingyue from the beginning.

Secretary Li held it in for a long time but finally couldn't resist asking, "Secretary Wu, did you know Assistant Su before?"

Wu Meiyan used to be at headquarters, so it wouldn't be strange if they knew each other.

She nodded, "Yes, I even owe Assistant Su a lot for my promotion and raise."

Such joking words would usually be taken lightly if someone else said them.

But Wu Meiyan usually took such good care of Su Lingyue.

Everyone understood the sincerity behind the joke. No wonder she took such good care of Su Lingyue. If she became the head secretary because of her, then she should indeed take care of her.

Only Su Lingyue still took her words as a joke.

Because she wasn't familiar with Wu Meiyan at all.

Where would helping her get promoted and a raise come from?

Chu Yi saying that would be more believable.

She echoed with a smile, silently drinking her tea. After a while, the dishes started arriving. Wu Meiyan ordered red wine. After it was poured, Su Lingyue took a sip. It wasn't as good as Ji Zhiyi's bottle.

Thoughts of Ji Zhiyi flashed through her mind.

Suddenly, she wanted to know what she had done today.

Su Lingyue asked Wu Meiyan, "Did anyone go to work at the company today?"

Wu Meiyan, "I don't think so?"

Secretary Li said, "Which department? I went to work overtime today, and it was just me."

Oh.

Ji Zhiyi definitely didn't go to the company this morning.

So where did she go?

To find Zhang Xian?

She doesn't seem to have many friends either.

Su Lingyue was lost in her thoughts when she suddenly heard someone call her name, "Assistant Su."

She focused and looked at Secretary Li, who had called her.

Secretary Li's face was flushed, with a slightly tipsy expression. How much had she drunk? Su Lingyue responded, "What's wrong?"

The others also looked over.

Secretary Li asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time, "You and President Ji—" Su Lingyue felt a sudden thud in her heart, as if struck by something. She didn't say anything, and then heard Secretary Li ask, "Are you really university classmates?"

The others groaned.

It was a feeling of "I gave you an opening, and you didn't seize it."

Secretary Li noticed the others' expressions and smiled, biting her lip.

Weren't they too embarrassed to ask more personal questions?

Zhang Ting didn't have such reservations. Since they were all at the same table, she might as well be frank. She said, "Assistant Su, did you and President Ji really have some conflict in the past?"

This question hit the mark.

The private room was silent for a moment. Su Lingyue picked up her red wine and took a big gulp before slowly saying, "I guess so."

After all, she had to maintain the persona of someone Ji Zhiyi hated in front of others.

The persona must not crumble!

Su Lingyue inwardly praised her quick thinking.

Zhang Ting said, "So you really scolded her?"

Scold her?

Su Lingyue remembered.

They were talking about the summer camp incident.

She nodded again, "Yeah, I scolded her."

---

"She really called you a beggar?" Zhang Xian's eyes towards Ji Zhiyi were filled with intense curiosity. Among all the rumors circulating in the company, this was probably the one that interested her the most.

Because she felt that Su Lingyue wouldn't call someone a beggar.

Even though she had heard that her personality used to be arrogant and bossy.

Ji Zhiyi smiled at her words.

Su Lingyue really did say it.

But not in front of many classmates.

That day, their group member got injured. By the time they took turns carrying her back, it was already past nine o'clock. The person in charge took the injured classmate to the hospital. The others dispersed or went to rest. Only a few of them hadn't showered or had dinner yet, so hungry their stomachs were sticking to their backs. But according to the summer camp rules, the cafeteria closed at eight and the shower room at nine.

They sat outside, hungry and smelly.

She was sitting next to Su Lingyue at the time. With the person in charge gone, another classmate temporarily took over and told them to go rest.

In such hot weather, they were drenched in sweat. Forget resting, even sitting was torture.

They could skip a meal, but they couldn't skip a shower.

So the other classmates went to plead with the temporary person in charge, wanting to go in and shower. But it was no use. They just kept saying it wasn't allowed according to the rules, a single sentence that crushed their hopes.

She shared a room with Su Lingyue. Seeing Su Lingyue sitting outside and hearing her classmates' pleading being rejected, she lost her temper, "Aren't you guys annoying? Anyone who isn't showering can just go sleep in her room, right?"

She said, pointing to the temporary person in charge.

The temporary person in charge's face paled. "Why?"

"You said it, not showering won't affect resting," Su Lingyue said. "Then go to your room! Anyway, don't come to my room." As she spoke, she stood up, "Who's in my room?"

She wanted to get up but felt very disheveled, her hands clutching the edges of her pants.

Someone said, "Ji Zhiyi is in the same room as you."

Su Lingyue said "Oh," and looked at her. In an instant, her blood rushed to her head, feeling her cheeks burning hot. She didn't need a mirror to imagine how she looked at that moment.

She looked at herself and said, "Either you go shower, or you go to her room. Either way, don't come back to the room without showering. I don't want to sleep in the same room as a beggar."

Later, somehow, it got distorted into Su Lingyue calling her a beggar.

But that night, she and her classmates all got to shower.

She didn't know if it was because of Su Lingyue's words, or her identity, or if the person in charge didn't want to give up their room.

After returning to the room, she couldn't sleep. After the lights were turned off, she called out, "Su Lingyue."

Su Lingyue wasn't asleep yet. Hearing her voice, she said, "What?"

She didn't know what she was thinking, but after a few moments of hesitation, she said, "I've showered."

Perhaps in Su Lingyue's mind,

She wanted to preserve a little bit of good memory.

She said she had showered, that she didn't smell anymore.

Su Lingyue said, "So what? Showering wasn't something you earned."

So she knew all along.

She knew they wanted to shower.

When Su Lingyue said outside that she didn't want to sleep in the same room as a beggar, she wasn't crushed. But these light words felt like a heavy slap on her face.

The burning sensation spread from her face to her heart.

Showering wasn't something she earned. She hadn't even said a single word from beginning to end.

Because she didn't want to argue with others in front of Su Lingyue in such a state.

So she didn't speak.

Su Lingyue must look down on her.

The feeling of inferiority was like silk, wrapping around her layer by layer. She didn't rest the entire night. The next day, her godmother proposed going abroad, and she went along with it, leaving the summer camp.

She didn't even have the courage to say goodbye to Su Lingyue.

Sometimes she wasn't willing to recall that memory.

Not because of Su Lingyue.

But because of herself. She looked down on herself. She placed herself in the dust. She didn't even have the courage to talk to Su Lingyue. She was like a mute, full of feelings but unable to express them.

Su Lingyue calling her a beggar.

Wasn't entirely untrue.

She was cautiously begging for this relationship, this fate.

Even now.

Ji Zhiyi finished a glass and leaned back on the sofa, unconsciously fiddling with her phone.

She only realized she had sent a message when she received a reply.

Su Lingyue looked down.

The phone screen displayed a message from Ji Zhiyi.

Asking her: [What time will you be back?]

The others were still making toasts. Su Lingyue took a breath, having drunk quite a bit. She said, "I'm going out to take a call."

Using this as an excuse to leave, she then replied to Ji Zhiyi: [Still going to be a while, is there something you need, President Ji?]

Say there is something!

She really didn't want to go to karaoke later. After drinking, she just wanted to get a good night's sleep.

Ji Zhiyi replied to her: [Nothing.]

Su Lingyue tapped the screen, biting her lip.

She heard sounds of arguing as she was about to go back.

"Let me in!" The voice was intermittent and not very clear. The soundproofing of this private room was too good. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the voice again: "Let me in!"

This time the voice was a bit louder.

And a little familiar.

Yang Zhizhi's assistant?

She subconsciously pushed open the door of the adjacent private room and saw Yang Zhizhi's assistant arguing with some people.

"Boss Zhou said temporarily no one is allowed in." The man in the black suit stopped Yang Zhizhi's assistant. The assistant was using both hands and feet, his face flushed with anxiety, crying, "I've already called the police!"

The man in the black suit remained unmoved.

Su Lingyue walked over.

The assistant heard footsteps behind him and turned his head. He hurriedly called out to her, "Assistant Su, Assistant Su, please help Zhizhi! She's still inside. They won't let me in. They're going to bully Zhizhi!"

In a few words, Su Lingyue understood what was happening inside.

Seeing this, she said, "Open the door."

The bodyguards exchanged glances.

They naturally recognized Su Lingyue.

But they also knew that Su Lingyue was no longer really a member of the Su family, so there was no need to listen to her. They still blocked the door, not letting her in. Su Lingyue took a step forward. A bodyguard blocked her way and even tried to reach out.

Su Lingyue raised her head and said coldly, "Do you dare touch me?"

The bodyguard froze for a moment, his hand retracting.

Those inside couldn't hear the commotion outside. The music was too loud. The TV was playing rock music, the lights flashing, making it even more dizzying than a bar. Yang Zhizhi hadn't originally planned to come. This afternoon, she had finalized the agreement with the agency's boss to sign with Yilin. The manager found out about it, but didn't scold her for going over their head to talk to the boss. Instead, they said, "Then you should apologize to Boss Zhou."

Zhou Yan, after all, represented Su Qi.

This apology had to be made.

She understood.

So she came to Yuhai.

Facing Zhou Yan's forceful toasting, she wanted both sides to have a graceful way out, so she gritted her teeth and drank. As she was drinking, he said he wanted to sing a couple of songs and would let her leave after she sang one.

She believed him.

After entering, Zhou Yan sat on the sofa. After she finished singing, Zhou Yan handed her a glass of wine, saying, "It's a pity we couldn't collaborate this time. We must be your priority next time."

She agreed and finished the wine.

Immediately, she felt dizzy.

She realized she had been tricked.

She only found out what her manager and Zhou Yan were planning when she was lying on the sofa. The manager was unhappy that she had directly discussed business with the boss, so they wanted her to be obedient.

They wanted to control her.

As for Zhou Yan, he wanted her to be his spokesperson.

These two must have reached an agreement.

Yang Zhizhi gritted her teeth, trying to use the pain to stay awake. She said, "Aren't you afraid I'll call the police?"

"Call the police," Zhou Yan said. "I can dial the number for you right now."

Saying this, he moved closer to her.

He had also drunk a lot. Seeing Yang Zhizhi's helpless state, a surge of desire rose in his heart. He slowly leaned closer to Yang Zhizhi and said, "Calling the police will let everyone know that you proactively approached me for the endorsement."

Tonight, the manager had used her name to make the appointment with Zhou Yan.

Despicable!

Before coming, she had asked her assistant to contact acquaintances, afraid that Zhou Yan would force her to drink. She had already arranged for someone to come and get her, but they hadn't arrived yet.

Zhou Yan knew the consequences of calling the police, which would be a devastating blow to her current career.

Her manager also knew.

They were acting so recklessly because they knew.

Yang Zhizhi also knew, which was why she had her assistant call several acquaintances instead of the police.

She regretted it now.

Yang Zhizhi bit her lip until it bled. She was too dizzy to even taste the blood. Her vision was blurring. She saw Zhou Yan getting closer and tried to kick him, but he grabbed her leg.

Her intense anger couldn't overcome her weak body. Her eyes were red with frustration, uncontrollable tears welling up. Zhou Yan leaned over her, just about to speak.

Suddenly, the door was opened.

Zhou Yan turned his face displeased. "Are you all freaking pigs? Who told you to..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw a figure quickly approaching. In the dim light, he recognized her—Su Lingyue.

Why was this woman here?

Zhou Yan subconsciously tried to block Yang Zhizhi.

Su Lingyue's expression was calm. The inside was a small karaoke room, about the size of a regular KTV room, dark and dimly lit, with only the faint light from the screen and the flashing lights. She walked up to Zhou Yan and was stopped.

For some reason, her mind flashed back to that night.

She came out of the room and saw Zhou Yan. The chilling panic and nervousness made her freeze. Now, she was confronting Zhou Yan again.

It was like going back to that night.

Her hands clenched into fists, her body tensed up, stiff. She bumped past Zhou Yan and called out, "Yang Zhizhi?"

If you listened closely, you could hear a barely concealed tremor beneath her calm tone.

Yang Zhizhi opened her eyes.

She looked at Su Lingyue, wondering if she was dreaming.

But it wasn't a dream. Then, she felt her hand being pulled. She didn't know where she got the strength from, but she gritted her teeth and stood up, leaning on Su Lingyue.

Su Lingyue's jawline tightened. Without saying much, she pulled her, preparing to leave, not even glancing at Zhou Yan.

She didn't want to look.

Dared not to look.

She was afraid that the dark memories would come flooding back, making her want to vomit! Even a glance was torment!

Being ignored, coupled with his newfound and old grievances against Su Lingyue, Zhou Yan's anger turned into audacity. He quickly grabbed a wine bottle from the table. Yang Zhizhi saw his raised hand, her eyes widening. She instinctively hugged Su Lingyue.

The expected pain didn't come.

She turned her head and saw Su Lingyue also picking up a wine bottle from the table. Without thinking, she brought it down on Zhou Yan's head with a loud crash!

Fragments flew.

Grazing Su Lingyue's cheek.

Fresh blood instantly welled up.

The red in her vision was like a fire burning in her body, making her blood boil!

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