Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I started interning at my family’s company.

Honestly, I could hardly believe it myself.

No matter how capable Song Qingyan was, there was no way he could so easily bring down the Zhao Family, a business that had stood firm for decades and survived economic crises, material shortages, commercial price wars, and all kinds of other dangers.

Unless the Zhao Family had problems of its own, and the Song Family had found something to use against us, then seized the chance to eat away at us bit by bit.

After joining the company, I kept my identity hidden and rotated through its various subsidiaries for a while, recording every problem I found.

Then, one afternoon, I entered the company openly as the eldest daughter of the Zhao Family and dealt with every issue I had uncovered with swift, decisive force. Those who needed to be fired were fired. Those who deserved promotions were promoted. Those who needed a warning got one.

Only after stabilizing the company did I finally have time to watch what was going on with Lin Zhi and Song Qingyan.

I had already deleted Song Qingyan.

There was nothing to see from Lin Zhi’s Moments, either. Aside from sharing a few public account articles, she didn’t post anything personal at all.

Instead, it was Li Shiyi who called me, gloating as she said, “Zhao Jiayu, did you know Song Qingyan is getting engaged soon? He said he couldn’t reach you, so he asked me to invite you to his engagement party.”

I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

Hm?

Interesting.

“To whom?”

“Lin Zhi, who else? If he can’t win over you, his white moonlight, can’t the man at least use a substitute to satisfy the craving?”

“Li Shiyi, why are you so hostile toward her? Even if you believe in destroying what you can’t have, the person you should hate and destroy is Song Qingyan, not Lin Zhi. Targeting her and turning this into some petty rivalry between women is beneath you.”

“What the hell? Are you insane, Zhao Jiayu? We grew up together. After all these years of friendship, you’re saying this to me over some substitute?”

My head started to ache.

After not seeing her for several years, I realized our values had become completely different.

I took a deep breath and said calmly, “Li Shiyi, back when I went abroad, part of it was because I wanted to continue my studies overseas, and part of it was because I could tell you liked Song Qingyan. So I took the initiative to avoid any awkwardness. If I had wanted to compete with you over a man, you wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

“Song Qingyan treating Lin Zhi as a substitute is proof of his low character. It shows he has no integrity, that he’s shameless and vulgar. He has the condescending mindset of a capitalist, thinking money lets him do whatever he wants. Doesn’t liking a scumbag like that drag down your own standards? Being liked by him is even worse luck. What is there to be proud of in being chosen by a scumbag?”

“If the world were truly divided by money, and people without money had no dignity, then rich people like you and me would also be nothing but undignified playthings in front of those with real power and status. That kind of thinking is profoundly wrong.”

“I remember that in college, you were still a good girl with decent values. I don’t know what you’ve been through to become like this, but I can tell you very clearly that if you keep going down this path, we won’t even be friends anymore.”

“Also, tell Song Qingyan that I’ll attend the engagement party, but not as his friend. I’ll be there as Lin Zhi’s friend. That’s all.”

After hanging up, I let out a long breath and couldn’t help opening WeChat to message Lin Zhi: “You’re getting engaged?”