Zheng Murong threw a cold sneer her way before flicking his wrist and walked off with the woman still accompanying him. His expression shifted when she spoke up to him, softening as a lover would do with their beloved.

Xia Mengxi let out an inaudible sound of utter defeat. The words of his sweet nothingness flashed through her brain, as it did with Zheng Tianyi when he realized the love of his life had betrayed him.

"My sweet, there will never be a day I stop loving you. I want to have a family with you where each of our children will share your traits." His hands ran through her hair, teasing her lower back as she laid naked upon his chest.

"Even when you draw your last breath, my heart will continue beating for you and only you." He had whispered into her ears while unzipping her dress.

A chill drenched her when she realized that the only times he spoke the words of a lovesick fool was when they were engaging in intercourse or when he desired to. Zheng Murong’s love was not as real as the love Zheng Tianyi had for her.

In this entire world, there was not a single man who would love her as much as Zheng Tianyi did. And she had betrayed him in more ways than one. Even if she crawled back to him, he would never look at her in the same way. Her vision blurred and the last thing she saw before losing her mind was the sight of Zheng Murong lovingly stroking the woman’s cheek.

- - - - -

When they were out of the prying eyes of the public, the woman, Bai Rinuo dropped her act. She detangled herself from Zheng Murong’s arm and threw him a scathing glare. "This is the last time I’m pretending to be your girlfriend." She had been great friends with him ever since they bonded during high school over the struggles of being their parents’ last choice for their leadership position.

"Pft, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy being my girlfriend." He jokingly retorted, his lips curving into a fond smile at her infuriated and disgusted expression. The angrier she was, the cuter she was. And today, she was already in a particularly wretched mood when they met up.

"That would be the last thing I enjoy." Bai Rinuo rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You almost damaged my reputation there."

"Did I? I think I improved it by having you as my woman. I’m a CEO now, you know."

"Yeah and I’m the COO of my parent’s company. Do you think I need you to boost my reputation?" Bai Rinuo teased him, leaning up to pinch his cheek as if he was a child. "And I got to my position faster than you did."

"Well, mine is higher than yours. So how does that feel?" He grabbed her wrist, yanking her closer, the action startling her. "You shouldn’t touch a man so freely and intimately."

For a split second there, he seemed like he wasn’t joking with his words. Bai Rinuo yanked her wrist back, surprised by his action. Her eyes dropped to the floor, afraid of the emotions she would see in his eyes. She was terrified that he would share mutual feelings. Every fiber in her was screaming he was not good for her. She had known him for a while now and had seen his playboy ways. Mingling with him would only break her heart, yet she idly indulged in his presence.

Finally, after a long silence, she said, "I have less work as a COO."

Zheng Murong wanted to ask about her conflicted expression. He could see the hesitation and pain in her eyes as if she was engaging in an argument with herself. "Nuonuo, I was joking—" He cut himself off upon realizing he wasn’t. He was as serious as a person could’ve ever been. His grip on her wrist loosened.

"I—"

"Take me home." Bai Rinuo tore her eyes from the floor to glance up at him with a gentle, understanding expression. "Please." She added on when he looked torn to part with her that quickly. "I have to get ready for Zhao Corporation’s half-decade meeting in a few days. "

"You’re attending?" Zheng Murong asked her in disbelief. He had received an invite a while ago but didn’t think she would have that many shares for her opinion to mean anything.

"Yes, of course, I am. I’ll be representing my father." Bai Rinuo answered, pulling her wrist back. "Next time you decide to mess with other women, please don’t involve me in your messy breakups." She sighed.

"I did it for Yang Feng this time. He helped me and it was the only way I could think of giving back to him." Zheng Murong ran a hand through his hair, the corner of his lips rising upwards.

"I know." Bai Rinuo answered before turning her back to him and proceeding in the direction of the back entrance where a car was already waiting for her.

- - - - -

The following week, Zhao Corporation.

The atmosphere within the spacious meeting room was tense. There was a row of elongated tables that was curved like a U. Everyone was able to get a good view of each other, specifically, the influential man at the center where the table was curved around. He was seated in the center with a stern face forever twisted into a scowl.

Not many people could remember the last time they had seen him genuinely smile. Most of his expressions were humorless smiles, taunting glances, and cunning smiles. It was no wonder he was frequently referred to as a sly fox who played his chess pieces perfectly. From all of the years in leadership, his heart had toughened into stone. He didn’t tolerate failure or second chances. Nor did he appear to understand the idea of being kind.

Zhao Xingxing could feel the mocking stares from her relatives as they belittled her with their eyes. What was a young woman doing here? Especially in a room of old, powerful men and relatives with years of experience above her head. Every smile here was faux and none of the people here had genuine expressions.

The same applied to her long-term friend and dearest cousin, Zhao Jing. He was usually calm and comforting, but today, he was the polar opposite of his easy-going smiles.

Zhao Xingxing understood how desperate he was for the position as the new CEO.

Her grandfather had finally started using a cane in public. The subtle action showed he was going to retire soon. The real question was, who would receive a favorable position? Many names came to her mind and every relative pinpointed who it was: Zhao Lifei.

The very name brought a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. It wasn’t a secret that Zhao Moyao completely doted on her. For christ’s sake! He had raised her with his blood and sweat. She had stuck by his side for so long, learning the ins and outs of the business world too early in her life. By now, it was no surprise her own investment firm was doing so well.

Zhao Xingxing wished she wasn’t second to Zhao Lifei. As much as she respected her cousin, she wished she wouldn’t walk in someone else’s shadows. All of her accomplishments were always insignificant in the eyes of her parents. A woman was meant to stay at home and take care of the house. She was expected to give birth to intelligent children and nourish the people in her life. Being a close friend to Zhao Jing, she should do everything in her power to assure he would become the CEO. And for some time, it was all she wanted to do.

Zhao Xingxing stiffened when she felt a particular pair of eyes trail her way. Her head snapped up and she saw who was staring at her — Wu Yuntai, the Vice President of Zhao Corporation. He was a wild-card ever since his introduction as the Vice President. It was met with outrage but one glare from Zhao Moyao was able to silence protests.

She threw him a questioning glare before averting her gaze.

"Who were you looking at?" Zhao Jing curiously asked her in a low voice that only they could hear.

"Just the Vice President."

"Right." Zhao Jing curtly responded, taking a sip of the ice water in front of him. He glanced at his grandfather and stiffened a bit upon making eye-contact. To both of their pleasant surprises, Zhao Jing didn’t avert his gaze. He held it provokingly which earned the slightest smirk of approval from Zhao Moyao who nodded his head.

When Zhao Moyao proceeded to scrutinize someone else, Zhao Jing let out a small puff of air that he didn’t know he was holding in.