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Love Rivals Collide: Chief’s Sweetheart
墨書 Inktalez
In the height of summer, cicadas were frantically chirping in the trees, and the wide asphalt road seemed to shimmer as if it were about to smoke. A sleek black Porsche slowly drove along the tree-lined avenue, entering a luxurious estate in Ning Cheng. Ye Ya glanced at the wilted wildflowers by the roadside, their heads drooping under the relentless sun.
She couldn't understand why her grandfather had gone to such lengths to summon her, even sending a driver to pick her up. Look at this black Porsche; it was the latest model of the summer and quite expensive.
In the Ye Family, she was merely an inconsequential figure. When did she become so important? What occasion could possibly require her presence?
"Wang Shu, do you know why Grandpa asked me to come?" Ye Ya tried to gather some information.
"Sorry, Miss, I don't know either." Old Wang had been Grandpa Ye Zhen's personal driver for over a decade. Having been by Grandpa's side for so long, he surely knew something, but he chose not to say. Ye Ya didn't press further.
Before long, the car stopped at the estate's grand entrance. Standing at the door, Ye Ya could already feel the opulence and meticulous design of the place. She wondered what significant event awaited her.
As soon as she stepped out of the car, a server inquired briefly before leading her inside.
Upon entering the private room, Ye Ya scanned the faces gathered there and was surprised to see Xiao Ma and Ye Qi among them—an entire table full of people.
"Grandpa," Ye Ya greeted politely.
"Xiao Ya, come sit down. This is Jing Uncle and Aunt Du," her grandfather introduced. Ye Ya offered another polite greeting as she took her seat, feeling an unsettling sensation from the way Jing Family members looked at her—as if she were a commodity waiting for a price tag.
The man sitting next to her was none other than Jing Hao, the eldest son of the Jing Family. He was a frequent figure in entertainment news, known for changing partners more often than changing clothes. Why was he here today? An inexplicable chill ran through Ye Ya, causing her to grip her hands tightly under the table.
"Huaisheng, what do you think of our Xiao Ya?" Ye Zhen observed Ye Ya and Jing Hao with a calm demeanor; they did indeed appear well-matched as a couple.
"If Xiao Ya can marry into our family, it would be a blessing for Jing Hao. I am very much looking forward to this union," Jing Hao replied. Both the Jing Family and Ye Family were prominent households in Ning Cheng; such a marriage would be beneficial for both parties, solidifying their positions in business.
At this point, Ye Ya understood everything clearly. She realized why her grandfather insisted on her attendance—the union between the Ye and Jing families held substantial advantages. The Ye Family was preparing to venture into new energy projects while the Jing Family had been one of the earliest enterprises in that field.
Maintaining a calm facade, she clenched her fingers tightly together beneath the table where no one could see. She even dared not grip too hard for fear that the sound of her bones might betray her anger in that moment.
Look, she is someone who doesn't even dare to express her anger. Sometimes, she even resents herself for not having the courage to resist.
Yet every time this happens, her mother's voice echoes in her ears: "Xiao Ya, you must live well in the Ye Family in the future."
To survive in a prestigious family like the Ye Family, one can only compromise, prioritize the greater good, and obey orders. She had known this since she entered the Ye Family at the age of five.
During the subsequent conversation, Ye Ya didn’t absorb anything; it felt as if everything was unrelated to her. All she knew was that she was about to marry Jing Hao and believed that tomorrow she would become the headline news. Once this news broke, the stocks of both the Ye Family and Jing's Company would likely rise significantly.
Throughout this conversation, no one asked for her opinion; everything was decided between the heads of both families.
She could even faintly hear Xiao Ma and Zhao Meiqin whispering: "If it weren't for Xiao Qi just graduating from university, how could this kind of thing possibly involve her? For someone like her to have a chance to marry into a wealthy family is already an enormous blessing."
Ye Ya gently sipped her red wine and glanced at the man beside her. His ambiguous smile made her feel cold, and thinking of his previous girlfriends made her feel utterly disgusted.
This meal might have been the most distressing one Ye Ya had experienced in her 25 years. After dinner, everyone left, leaving Jing Hao and her to cultivate their relationship.
Facing this man, Ye Ya felt she had nothing to say. She simply said lightly, "If you have something to do, you can leave first; you don’t need to worry about me."
Jing Hao smiled slightly, "Alright then, excuse me!" He then disappeared, causing Ye Ya to breathe a sigh of relief.
As Ye Ya walked out of the hall, she suddenly realized she had done something foolish. She had arrived with a driver; if she wanted to leave now, she had to walk out on her own.
Looking up at the blazing sun overhead, she thought it didn’t matter; after that meal, she was already sweating cold bullets. What harm could a little sun do?
Walking along that tree-lined avenue, Ye Ya looked at the wilted flowers by the roadside and couldn’t help but think they resembled herself. A bitter smile crept onto her face; this marriage truly felt like a joke, and she was its best leading lady.
In the afternoon, Ye Ya returned to the office. Three years ago, she graduated from university and entered the Ye Family. From being a mere entry-level employee, she climbed up to an important department within the Ye Family. Now, she was the manager of the planning department at Ye Family.
Sitting in the armchair, Ye Ya pondered whether this was all worth it. Did her happiness mean nothing to them? Should she simply resign herself to this marriage? Was she trying to prove her worth within the Ye Family? For the past three years, she had worked tirelessly, hoping to earn the respect of the Ye Family members, yet it seemed that all of this was merely a delusion on her part.
As Ye Ya wrestled with this existential dilemma, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. She composed herself, straightened her back, and coldly said, “Come in.”
Her assistant, Xiao Guo, entered. “Manager, is there anything else you need?”
“Go ahead and clock out,” Ye Ya waved her hand dismissively, signaling for her to leave. Xiao Guo hesitated for a moment, observing that although Ye Ya was not particularly old, she carried herself with an air of maturity that made her seem much older. In fact, Xiao Guo had rarely seen her smile at the office.
“Manager, tomorrow is the weekend. We’re planning to unwind a bit. Would you like to join us?” As soon as she said it, Xiao Guo regretted her words; everyone knew that the icy Miss Ye had no interest in attending gatherings with junior employees.
“No thanks. You all enjoy yourselves,” Ye Ya replied, lacking any enthusiasm. Her mind was preoccupied with Jing Hao's disgusting demeanor. Although he was somewhat handsome, he was nothing more than a playboy who treated relationships like mere toys. The thought of him made her feel sick, akin to encountering a rat in a sewer—utterly repulsive.
Ye Ya remained in the office until nearly everyone else had left before finally deciding to leave herself.
As the city lights began to twinkle, marking the start of nightlife, she drove aimlessly through the streets.
Should she go home? Back to that cold and lavish house? Ye Ya quickly dismissed the thought. Besides, her marriage had already been arranged; returning home held little significance now. Why bother going back so early?
Her car moved like a headless fly through the streets until suddenly she had to slam on the brakes at the sight of a couple tightly embracing each other ahead. She squinted slightly, focusing on the pair.
Jing Hao was about to unleash a torrent of curses at the inconsiderate jerk who dared to shine his headlights on him. Reeking of alcohol and with one arm wrapped around a provocatively dressed woman, he strode toward her.
Upon recognizing who was inside the car, Jing Hao’s face broke into an evil grin. He lightly tapped on the window, and Ye Ya obligingly rolled it down.
“Ye Ya,” he sneered, “don’t think that just because you’re marrying into the Jing Family you can control me. You’re nothing but a pawn in this game of interests; even if we get married, you’ll just be a decorative vase for the Jing Family.”
Jing Hao's words were disgustingly accurate and hit too close to home for Ye Ya to even muster a rebuttal. He was right; she was merely a useful piece for the Ye Family.
“Alright, darling, let's go have some fun.” Jing Hao leaned in and kissed the woman in front of Ye Ya before he walked away, satisfied.
Ye Ya watched Jing Hao's retreating figure with a cold smile. After guarding her purity for 25 years, handing it over to such a man would be the biggest joke of all. She let out a bitter laugh, feeling as if she had swallowed a bowl of bitter herbs. Yet, she had no one to confide in. Her gaze drifted to the club across the street, shimmering under the night sky, its golden neon lights dazzling and vibrant, showcasing the lively atmosphere beneath their glow.
“Brilliant Splendor” was Ning Cheng's most upscale nightclub, and suddenly Ye Ya felt an urge to step inside.
As the planning manager of the Ye Family, she had been to places like this before and knew well that it offered everything imaginable.
After parking her car, she walked in. It wasn't long before Mama San Hong Jie approached her. Ye Ya was aware that besides beautiful women, there was also a service known as “Niulang” available at Brilliant Splendor.
It felt ironic to her that she had fallen to such depths. Once upon a time, she had dreamed of wearing a beautiful white gown, walking toward the man she loved, and then spending a lifetime together. Now, all of that seemed impossible; perhaps it would only be realized in fleeting midnight dreams.
“Beautiful lady, how can I assist you?” Hong Jie’s exaggerated red lips made her look even more like an ancient brothel madam.
“Hong Jie, I want to find an experienced handsome man,” Ye Ya stated clearly without any unnecessary chatter.
“Oh, good! I promise you'll be satisfied,” Hong Jie replied with some surprise, covering her mouth as she laughed joyfully. She took Ye Ya's hand affectionately as if she were her mother and began introducing the eligible men in the club. After inquiring about Ye Ya's preferences and receiving payment from her, Hong Jie handed over a room card and assured her to wait comfortably.
Brilliant Splendor truly lived up to its reputation as the most luxurious club in Quan Ning City. The top-floor rooms were decorated and designed to five-star standards; there was no hint of a brothel atmosphere. Holding the room card, Ye Ya felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation; she thought to herself that it must feel something like heading to the execution ground.
However, after more than twenty years of repression, she had never taken control of her own life. Now it seemed that all this pent-up frustration had reached the brink of collapse; she needed an outlet.
With her heart racing, Ye Ya approached the door with the room card in hand. To her surprise, it swung open without any sound; it hadn’t even been locked. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
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