After the Strategy Mission Was Exposed, the Childhood Friend Became a Sinister Male Ghost - Chapter 21

Ling Luo was shocked. “It’s over! I am out of the running!”

The moment the female lead appeared, all her hard work would go down the drain.

Zhou Wangxing looked at her with a beaming smile. Her facial expressions changed rapidly, shifting from shock to anger, yet he did not find it annoying at all. In fact, he thought she was quite cute.

From Lin Zhouci’s usual accounts, Zhou Wangxing knew that Ling Luo was dutiful, observant, and exceptionally smart. A wicked idea began to form in his mind.

He pulled out his business card. “This is my card. You are welcome to jump ship and come work for me.”

“…”

Ling Luo did not give him the time of day. She picked up her bag and walked away. For the first time in his life, Zhou Wangxing had been snubbed by a woman, and a surge of anger rushed through him.

He stood up abruptly, drawing the gazes of everyone around him. Remembering that this was not his home turf, Zhou Wangxing composed himself slightly. He followed Ling Luo out.

Standing outside the main entrance, Zhou Wangxing looked at Ling Luo’s retreating back and said in a flippant tone, “Ling Luo, I know who you are!”

That single sentence brought the cold woman to a halt.

Ling Luo gripped her bag tightly. Still maintaining her decorum, she replied politely, “President Zhou, you have the wrong person.”

“You know my surname is Zhou, yet you still show me such disrespect!”

“…”

Ling Luo stepped into the elevator, casting a cold glance at Zhou Wangxing outside the doors. If there were no surveillance cameras here, she would have beaten him so badly that his own parents would not recognize him.

He was a useless playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. He had no skills other than spending money. If his name was not Zhou, no one would give him the time of day.

Ling Luo reached the first floor. She spotted Lin Zhouci standing near the greenery by the main entrance. From an outside angle, he was effectively hidden. He looked utterly dejected, as if he had lost his very soul.

Lin Zhouci: 55.

His affection level had not changed. Ling Luo did not let her guard down. She took a step forward.

Zhou Wangxing emerged from another elevator and blocked Ling Luo’s path. “I am angry now!”

Ling Luo stopped, lowering her dark eyelashes so her emotions remained unreadable. Zhou Wangxing loved her face. If she became his girlfriend and they appeared before the Young Master of the Di family together, perhaps the Young Master would take the initiative to cooperate with the Zhou family. Just saying it out loud would give him a lot of prestige.

His gaze was naked and predatory. “Ling Luo, be my girlfriend. You will not have to work while walking on eggshells for others anymore.”

Ling Luo clenched her fists but ultimately did not strike. Instead, she took two steps back. This small gesture, however, was misinterpreted by Zhou Wangxing as tacit consent.

Taking an inch and wanting a mile, Zhou Wangxing reached out to put his arm around her shoulder. Ling Luo immediately swatted his hand away and ran toward Lin Zhouci. As if being chased by a monster, she accidentally tripped and fell to the ground. Due to the momentum, her handbag flew out, and her phone slid across the floor.

“President Zhou, please do not do this,” her voice trembled, laced with a sob.

Hearing Ling Luo’s voice, Lin Zhouci snapped out of his daze. He turned to look. Zhou Wangxing was squatting arrogantly in front of Ling Luo, reaching out to pinch her chin.

Lin Zhouci’s heart tightened, and he shouted sharply, “Young Master Zhou! Stop!”

Zhou Wangxing froze. Ling Luo stood up and limped behind Lin Zhouci, sobbing softly, “Young Master Zhou tried to take liberties with me.”

“Who took liberties with you? I was just trying to help you up! You are like the dog biting Lu Dongbin; you do not recognize a good heart!” Zhou Wangxing hopped with rage. He hated being wrongly accused more than anything. “Lin Zhouci, I will not beat around the bush. I have taken a liking to this executive assistant of yours!”

Zhou Wangxing’s posture was high and mighty. Lin Zhouci clearly sensed Ling Luo’s nervousness. He took two steps forward, his tall frame shielding her and blocking Zhou Wangxing’s view.

He forced a polite yet distant smile. “President Zhou, first, she is my employee. Second, she is an independent individual. I do not know how you used to pursue girls, but at the very least, you should show some respect to women.”

The Huali Palace was a venue specifically for corporate entertainment and banquets. It prioritized its image above all else. The commotion by the elevators quickly caught the attention of the front desk. Two security guards stepped forward, ready to break up the fight.

They recognized Zhou Wangxing as a regular at Huali Palace, and the Zhou family even held shares in the establishment. The two guards asked Zhou Wangxing politely, “Young Master Zhou, are you having some trouble? Do you need us to handle this?”

Zhou Wangxing valued his reputation above all and did not want his image of harassing a woman to get out. He glared fiercely at Lin Zhouci and hissed through gritted teeth, “I do not need it!”

The guards then looked at Lin Zhouci. Lin Zhouci turned his head to glance at Ling Luo. Ling Luo looked aggrieved but stubbornly shook her head.

Lin Zhouci told the guards, “Everything is fine here.”

The atmosphere between the three was subtle, resting in a bizarre, tense balance. Sensing no immediate danger, the guards returned to their posts.

Zhou Wangxing shoved his hands into his pockets. After taking three steps toward the door, he looked back with a contemptuous tone. “Lin Zhouci, you will regret what you did today.”

Lin Zhouci smiled faintly. “Young Master Zhou, I look forward to it.”

Zhou Wangxing felt the frustration of punching a bale of cotton. A man with nothing to lose fears nothing. Fuming with rage, Zhou Wangxing stormed out of Huali Palace.

Lin Zhouci looked Ling Luo over to check her condition. She had lost an earring, her bracelet had fallen off, and there was a scrape on her knee. For no reason at all, his heart winced.

Lin Zhouci knelt down to help her pick up her things. Ling Luo’s voice was shaky. “President Lin, thank you for defending me.”

Lin Zhouci held the items out to her. The woman’s round, fawn-like almond eyes were filled with tears, and the rims of her eyes were red. Her aggrieved look was heartbreakingly pitiable.

His tone softened. “Do not be afraid. It is over.”

“President Lin, I am sorry. It is all my fault. I am afraid President Zhou will cause trouble for you.”

“You do not need to worry about those things. We need to put some medicine on that knee.” He easily steered the conversation away.

Ling Luo frowned slightly and whispered, “My hand hurts a bit too. President Lin, could you accompany me to a nearby pharmacy to buy some medicine?”

The woman revealed her vulnerability to him without reservation, transforming from a warm sun into a delicate clinging vine. It was as if she had completely accepted him as a savior to be relied upon.

Lin Zhouci: 60.

System: [I cannot believe it! Men really do fall for this act!]

Ling Luo lowered her eyes. “Where is the female lead?”

The system replied excitedly: [The female lead took a car and bolted long ago! I am telling you, the male lead almost caught up to her, but for some reason, he just stood there like a statue. He watched silently as she got into another man’s car. It was just like an incompetent husband from a movie! Yes, that is exactly the right description. It is too perfect.]

Ling Luo: “…”

Anyway, as long as she could divert Lin Zhouci’s attention to herself, it was fine. The current plot was going off the rails constantly, and there were too many unstable factors. She was worried the male and female leads would meet prematurely.

Two women fighting over one man; she really was not confident. After all, a supporting female lead can never defeat the White Moonlight female lead.