Returning - Chapter 17
Chapter 17: Victory and Defeat
Zhao Yu caught the sarcasm in Xu Chengyan's eyes—mockery directed at her claim that he was "still hung up on her."
She knew, of course, that Xu Chengyan would never actively seek out information about her. But she also knew that, within Huacan, she had become something of a notorious figure. Her name frequently surfaced in water-cooler gossip.
Especially on the day Xu Chengyan had visited Huacan to discuss the collaboration. She had deliberately made a scene in the company's main group chat, seeking attention, and posted a particularly inflammatory status on her social media.
Neither she nor Xue Zi'ang were at the office. Xue Zhan had secretly orchestrated to blow the incident of her injury out of proportion. There was a high probability that people were chattering about it more than usual. One particular manager who liaised with Yicheng was a notorious blabbermouth; it was only a matter of time before her "glorious deeds" were spilled.
This was, admittedly, an uncontrollable variable, but she had clearly bet correctly on her colleagues' appetite for gossip.
Regardless of whether people discussed her with pity or schadenfreude, within the narrative of her injury, she was the absolute victim—someone whose hand had nearly been crippled, a casualty needing a month of recuperation at home.
And yet, in the blink of an eye, Xu Chengyan had found her lively and vigorous, cruising for men in a bar. It was identical to the "true face" he had witnessed before. From his perspective, it was indeed laughable.
Zhao Yu wasn't annoyed. Smiling, she leaned against the wall, took a drag of her cigarette, and glanced up at Xu Chengyan. "I would have thought a man of President Xu's stature would only frequent high-end clubs. I never imagined you'd deign to slum it in a dive like this. Rubbing shoulders with us common folk must be rather uncomfortable, no?"
Xu Chengyan shifted aside, avoiding the smoke she exhaled. "If I hadn't come to this 'dive,' I would have missed the chance to witness Miss Zhao's other face."
He drawled the last few words, the mocking curve of his lips deepening. "Why didn't Miss Zhao hand out business cards while picking up men just now?"
Zhao Yu understood perfectly well. He was mocking her again.
From his perspective, her hunt for a man tonight was purely for a one-night stand. No identity disclosure was required. If the chemistry was right, they'd get a room, screw, and then go their separate ways, nameless strangers.
But that time at the airport, she had given him her card. That was because he possessed not only the face and physique suitable for a bedmate, but his attire and the secretary beside him screamed elite status. So, she had approached him using her real identity.
She had harbored ulterior motives. While casting a wide net for high-quality sexual partners, she was also hoping to solve the problem of a long-term meal ticket. Perhaps, she might truly leverage the opportunity to soar up the social ladder.
Unfortunately, upon discovering he was the CEO of a partner company, she had panicked. Because she couldn't afford to lose that decent job. She had to wear a mask in public, hiding her dissolute nature.
A person like her—unable to be a contented good girl, yet lacking the guts to completely abandon societal morals or disregard others' opinions—lived a hypocritical and cautious existence.
And a man like Xu Chengyan, a golden-spoon prodigy, held nothing but contempt for such women. Full of disdain, he looked down from his lofty height, watching them prance before him like clowns.
He wouldn't expose her airport pickup attempt. A woman like Zhao Yu, not even in his social stratum, wasn't worth the energy it would take to tear off her mask. His status precluded such a déclassé act.
But he seemed to have forgotten: true disdain means not even sparing a glance.
Yet as early as that day at Huacan headquarters, he had broken precedent by following her into the stairwell. He had wasted far too much time mocking her, even physically touching her.
And tonight, again, he was the one who initiated this conversation, even though his eyes were still full of mockery and contempt.
So, who was truly the hypocrite? And who was winning?
The last stub of her cigarette burned out. Zhao Yu stubbed it out and tossed it into the trash. "Don't tell me President Xu wants to tear off my mask again, let my colleagues and superiors see my true colors? If so, be my guest. My days at Huacan are numbered anyway. I can just quit."
A woman putting on a brave front, calm on the surface but with a flicker of panic in her eyes, words betraying her true feelings. That was the role she was playing now.
She wasn't worried the man before her could see through her act.
He was too proud, too confident. Confident that others were utterly transparent before him.
Whether it was the greed in Zhao Yu's eyes when she hit on him at the airport, the panic on her face when she ran into him at Huacan HQ, the shock reflected in the mirror when he appeared behind her just now, or her current bravado.
He was sure everything he saw was the truth. So, he never suspected Zhao Yu had deliberately approached him at the airport. Nor did he suspect that her presence at this bar tonight was, again, because of him.
Men like this are so arrogantly insufferable. Yet, somehow, they stir up a desire for conquest.
No wonder a woman as overbearing as Zhuang Yiqing would choose him as her life partner.
Zhao Yu smiled, pushed past Xu Chengyan, and walked away without a word.
She bumped into the man she had been flirting with earlier. He was still very interested, waiting to take her to a room. But she decisively pushed this tool aside.
After all, Xu Chengyan had once again witnessed her unspeakable true face, and subjected her to such naked mockery. Given her current persona, she was in no mood for a one-night stand.
The man, seeing her change her mind so abruptly, was unwilling to give up. He continued to pester her relentlessly.
In a foul mood, Zhao Yu cursed him out and shoved him hard. The man, enraged, grabbed her wrist and started spewing filth, each insult more vicious than the last, drawing sidelong glances from the crowd.
Everyone knew exactly why single men and women came to a bar at this hour. Especially dressed the way Zhao Yu was, she was clearly seeking thrills. So even as the fight escalated, people just watched the spectacle, no one stepping in to help.
The standoff dragged on. The bartenders were still nowhere to be found on the second floor. The man, stung by Zhao Yu's insults, grew increasingly humiliated and enraged. He raised his right hand to strike her.
But another muscular arm stopped him.
Xu Chengyan still looked every bit the refined gentleman, his expression calm, betraying no emotion. But just by standing among the crowd, he exuded an undeniable, powerful aura. One look and people instinctively felt his status was not simple, that he was not to be trifled with.
"Laying hands on a woman is beneath a gentleman."
He spoke to the man, and after a moment's hesitation, the man indeed lowered his arm. He shot Zhao Yu a resentful glare, snorted coldly, and left.
Zhao Yu looked at Xu Chengyan with feigned surprise and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I thought President Xu would just stand by and enjoy the show. A woman like me, encountering this sort of thing, it's just karma."
After the recent struggle, one strap of her slip dress had torn, exposing a large portion of her shoulder and part of her chest. Xu Chengyan glanced at it, then took off his jacket and handed it to her.
Zhao Yu didn't stand on ceremony. She put the jacket on and said, "Thanks." Then, after a pause, she added, "Clothes worn by someone like me probably aren't something President Xu would want back. I'll reimburse you."
"No need. I'm not short on that," Xu Chengyan said. He glanced at the man who had nearly hit her, still lingering nearby and watching, and said, "Let's go. I'll see you out."
Zhao Yu followed him toward the bar entrance. Looking at his tall, broad back, she smiled quietly to herself.
Even if this man is lofty and disdains her, his status and upbringing still won't allow him to stand by and watch a woman be bullied.
Tonight's round—the winner and loser are all too clear.
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