Chapter 18: Oh my, what kind of hatred is this?

When Guo Cheng firmly insisted that Shen Ling abort the child, she had already prepared a contingency plan.

As the driver escorted her to the operating room to wait, she paid the person behind her in line to swap clothes and go in for the procedure in her place. Then, she seized the opportunity to escape.

The moment she was free, she went straight to find Xu Yanyan. To her surprise, she saw her in the parking lot—it was as if her thoughts had summoned her.

Since even God seemed to be on her side, she was determined to protect this child at all costs.

Xu Yanyan lowered her car window, casually flipping the report face down on the passenger seat.

“Miss Xu, what a coincidence.” Shen Ling smiled sweetly, her dimples and the beauty mark near her eye adding to her charm.

“Is there something you need?” Xu Yanyan’s voice carried the weight of recent tears, her tone nasal.

Shen Ling glanced at the report on the passenger seat. As she suspected, Xu Yanyan must have come for a check-up. After all these years of struggling with infertility, she was rather pitiful.

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“Ykpp Dw, nswze ol prlyj kd rakhyvl?”

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Gp pbl qkdkpble prlyjkdt, pbl aszzle wr vbl okdeso yde pvyavle bla nya, alyeu vs zlyhl. Jwv Fbld Nkdt’p osaep pvsrrle bla:

“R’x raltdydv—okvb Qws Ubldt’p nbkze.”

Dw Zyduyd qasgl, vbld vwadle sqq vbl nya yde zssjle cynj yv bla. “Ebyv eke usw pyu?”

Dw Zyduyd nswzed’v iwkvl taypr bso pbl qlzv. Rq kv byed’v clld qsa vbyv alrsav, pbl xktbv byhl clld ydtau yde qwakswp. Gqvla yzz, Fbld Nkdt bye lppldvkyzzu nsxl vs qzywdv bla raltdydnu. Ohld psxlsdl yp nsxrsple yp Dw Zyduyd oswze byhl zkjlzu zspv bla vlxrla.

Jwv pbl bye fwpv alye vbl alrsav yde ynnlrvle vbl qynv vbyv pbl yde Qws Ubldt oswze dlhla byhl nbkzeald vstlvbla.

Pllr esod, pbl qlzv y pldpl sq alzklq. Mbkp oyu, pbl oswzed’v byhl vs pwcflnv y nbkze vs vbl rykd nywple cu bla sod plzqkpbdlpp.

However, the situation now seemed absurd. A man who was naturally infertile had somehow managed to father a child?

The irony of it all made her almost laugh. Even Guo Cheng, who had always manipulated others, was now being played. Was this karma?

Before Shen Ling appeared, Xu Yanyan had been thinking about how to proceed with the divorce.

Now, Shen Ling had inadvertently given her an idea.

Xu Yanyan’s contemplative expression came across to Shen Ling as shock and helplessness, boosting Shen Ling’s confidence.

“I said, I’m pregnant with Guo Cheng’s child,” Shen Ling repeated smugly.

Xu Yanyan’s gaze fell on Shen Ling’s abdomen. “How far along are you?”

Shen Ling noticed her calm demeanor and suddenly found her pitiable. It seemed Xu Yanyan had known about her affair with Guo Cheng all along but hadn’t intervened, likely because she felt guilty about her own infertility.

This assumption emboldened Shen Ling further. She raised her chin slightly, almost boasting, “Three months.”

“Does Guo Cheng know?”

“Of course, he does. He even asked me to come for a prenatal check-up today.” Shen Ling lied without missing a beat.

Xu Yanyan noticed the tension in Shen Ling’s clenched fists and smirked inwardly.

“Get in the car. Let’s talk somewhere else,” Xu Yanyan said, unlocking the door and gesturing for Shen Ling to get in.

Shen Ling was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected Xu Yanyan to agree so easily. Her composure was almost frightening. Was this what it meant to be a true lady of the upper class? Anyone else would have slapped her by now.

As she pondered Xu Yanyan’s intentions, the car pulled into a private club. They took an elevator directly to a private suite.

After the server brought tea and snacks and left, Xu Yanyan spoke again. “The lipstick stain on Guo Cheng’s cuff—that was you, wasn’t it?”

Shen Ling was caught off guard. Xu Yanyan’s tone left no room for denial. It seemed she was fully aware of Guo Cheng’s activities.

Why was she so calm? Had she dealt with situations like this before?

The thought made Shen Ling uneasy.

Xu Yanyan saw through her hesitation. She sipped her tea elegantly and said, “You’re not the first woman to try using a child to force me out.”

That single sentence sent a chill down Shen Ling’s spine.

“You claim to care so much about this child, yet you were engaging in vigorous activity in a car while pregnant. Doesn’t seem like you value it all that much.”

Shen Ling’s face turned pale with fear. How did Xu Yanyan even know such details?

“Surprised?” Xu Yanyan smiled faintly, her natural pride radiating from her expression, leaving Shen Ling at a loss.

Shen Ling shook her head instinctively.

“You probably think I’m cold-hearted, right? Knowing my husband’s cheating and not reacting?”

In her heart, Shen Ling nodded furiously.

“I’m guessing Guo Cheng insisted you abort the child, didn’t he?”

“No, no! He wouldn’t!” Shen Ling stammered, sweat beading on her back. Xu Yanyan wasn’t as simple as she had imagined.

Xu Yanyan chuckled. “If he wouldn’t, then why are you here talking to me? Guo Cheng knows my limits. Any woman he’s been involved with wouldn’t dare come to me unless he’s kept it from me.”

Shen Ling began trembling.

She had always thought Xu Yanyan was an easy target, which was why Guo Cheng had been so brazen. But now, Xu Yanyan’s commanding presence and attitude showed otherwise. She wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

“You’re his secretary and work for Fengyi. You must know that Guo Cheng owes everything he has to me. Do you really think having a child will help you rise to the top, or even replace me?”

Shen Ling had once thought so—until now.

From afar, Xu Yanyan had always seemed gentle and approachable. But the woman sitting before her was entirely different.

“Guo Cheng and I married for love. But love is fleeting and insubstantial. What remains constant is mutual benefit. For people like us, appearances matter most. Even if I no longer love him, I’ll continue to maintain a harmonious façade. Of course, some people fail to understand this and end up humiliating themselves.”

Tears of humiliation welled up in Shen Ling’s eyes. Though Xu Yanyan hadn’t directly insulted her, every word felt like a slap in the face.

“If you’re capable, by all means, keep the child. It doesn’t affect me in the slightest. Oh, and Guo Cheng probably hasn’t told you this—if my father discovers an illegitimate child, Guo Cheng will lose everything. So, you’d better keep it hidden, or you’ll end up with nothing in the end.”

Xu Yanyan grabbed her bag and was about to leave when Shen Ling suddenly grabbed the corner of her clothes and knelt down on the ground. “Please, Miss Xu, I truly want to keep this child. I beg you to help me. Please!”

Xu Yanyan looked at her in disbelief. “Why should I help you? Don’t you think you’re being a bit absurd? This child represents a blatant betrayal. Why would I humiliate myself like that?”

“You just said you don’t love him anymore, right? If that’s the case, divorce him! This child is solid proof of his infidelity during the marriage. With this evidence, he won’t get a penny from the divorce settlement, and your interests will remain intact.”

Xu Yanyan sneered inwardly. The playboy Guo Cheng probably never imagined he’d fall into such a trap.

Feigning surprise, she said, “Oh my, do you really love Guo Cheng? How could you possibly set him up like this? If he ends up penniless, what good will that do for you? Do you think you two can live on love alone?”

Shen Ling confessed bluntly, “Just as you said, love fades, but benefits are lasting. I’ll help you ensure he leaves with nothing. In return, you give me 20 million. Once it’s done, I’ll abort the child and leave him for good.”

Xu Yanyan had guessed as much. Guo Cheng’s promiscuity had left his mistresses insecure, and she was certain he hadn’t planned on keeping this child.

Initially, Shen Ling probably came to force her way in, but Xu Yanyan’s indifference made her realize the futility of it, so she changed her approach. Instead of relying on others, she decided to secure her own gain, using the child as her last bargaining chip.

“I already have a mountain of evidence against Guo Cheng’s infidelity in my safe. Why should I pay for it?”
“I also have evidence of him coercing me to steal confidential company information. Not only can you divorce him, but you can also avenge yourself for years of patience by sending him to prison for life.”

Xu Yanyan raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t expected Guo Cheng to go as far as stealing company secrets.

Thinking back to her father’s subtle reminders, she realized he must have restrained himself out of consideration for her feelings. Otherwise, Guo Cheng would never have climbed this far.

Xu Yanyan clenched her fists quietly, feeling a pang of guilt for her naivety.

“Fine, I can give you the money, but you’ll have to follow my instructions. Before the matter is settled, nothing must happen to the child. Can you manage that?”

“I can. No problem.”

Xu Yanyan’s gaze turned cold. It was time to put an end to this.

---

The next day at work, Xu Yinyin sat down at her desk and immediately sensed a tense atmosphere. Xue Weiwei quickly filled her in while the manager wasn’t around.

“Yinyin, be extra careful today. Tang always replaced Zheng Yuan with Zhao Xing’s son, Zhao Gang. He’s even stricter than Zheng Yuan. If he catches anyone making mistakes or slacking off, you’ll be wearing the consequences for a long time. If you see him, avoid him at all costs.”

Weiwei wanted to warn her more directly, but doing so might reveal that she could hear everyone’s inner thoughts. She opted for a subtle approach instead.

Xu Yinyin nodded. “Got it. Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Xiao Qi, does Zhao Gang have any dirt?”

Xue Weiwei perked up her ears.

“Let me take a look!”

Before the system could find anything, Zhao Gang entered the office. Xue Weiwei whispered, “He’s here!”
Everyone quickly pretended to be busy while getting ready to be fed melons.

Xu Yinyin also focused intently on the employee manual on her computer screen, waiting for the system to deliver the dirt.

Zhao Gang walked straight to her desk, his square face stern, his presence oppressive. “Are you Xu Yinyin?”

She looked up, calm and composed. “Yes, I am. Is there something you need from me?”

Zhao Gang smirked coldly. “The restroom in my office is clogged. Go fix it.”

Xu Yinyin smiled politely. “If I remember correctly, unclogging pipes is the janitor’s responsibility. I don’t think the front desk is equipped for that.”

“What the hell? This blockhead dares to ask me to clean his restroom? Fix your brain first, buddy!”

“You—” Zhao Gang started to speak but stopped, his words stuck in his throat.

At that moment, he finally understood Zheng Yuan’s frustration. He could hear her inner thoughts but couldn’t confront her about it or even acknowledge it. It was maddening.

“Oh, my gosh! His dirt is insane. I’m speechless!”

“Spill! Don’t keep me hanging!”

“You won’t believe it—his current wife was originally his brother-in-law’s mistress. To avoid getting caught, his brother-in-law introduced her to him. Every time he leaves home, she texts his brother-in-law, and they fool around in their marital bed, trying out different positions all over the house.”

Zhao Gang froze in place, stunned.

“Wow, that’s bold! Is this what they mean by keeping it in the family?”

Everyone listening suppressed their laughter, barely managing to hold it in.

Zhao Gang’s temple veins bulged. He wanted to yell but found himself silenced yet again, utterly helpless.

“And that’s not all! After they got married, he found out about it and started beating her out of frustration. Eventually, he got so mad he decided to explore his sexuality—and he’s the submissive one!”

The office was filled with muffled gasps of shock.

“Wait—what?!” Xu Yinyin was floored. “So he just flipped teams like that?”

“Exactly! He found true love with his first experience, paid off his partner’s debts, and even bought him a mansion. He’s been taking care of him ever since.”

“Oh, wow. That’s oddly…romantic? A devoted sugar daddy for sure.”

“But!” The system suddenly made a sharp turn, leaving the melon-loving crowd on edge.

But what? Just spit it out already! Don’t make me kneel down to hear it!

“His brother-in-law snatched it back! Right now, the two of them are indulging in passion in the love nest he bought for tens of millions, completely lost in the moment.”

“Oh my! What kind of grudge is this? Targeting the same person, cheating with both men and women—this is insane!”

“Ahhhhh!” Zhao Gang let out a wail, raised both fists, and stormed off furiously.

“Huh? Why did he suddenly leave?”

“Probably in a hurry to use the bathroom, since it’s broken.”

The gossip crowd’s inner selves were already cracking up with laughter. Yeah, right, “bathroom emergency.” Clearly, he’s rushing off to catch them in the act!

Hahaha, the princess’s melons are always the biggest and the juiciest. Yum!

At the doorway to the secretarial office, Tang Wan witnessed the entire scene, trembling with anger. She had brought Zhao Gang in to suppress Xu Yinyin’s arrogance, but he ended up having dirt on him too.

Is there no one in this world who’s clean and untouchable?

“Tang Zong, were you looking for me?” Sun Min asked, surprised by her sudden appearance.

Tang Wan quickly composed herself. “I believe today you’re meeting with Secretary Ji of Shengda Group. Make sure to bring Yinyin with us.”

A trace of surprise flashed through Sun Min’s eyes, but she quickly nodded in agreement.

Shengda and Fengyi have business dealings, and today’s meeting was to sign a project contract worth two billion. Such an important occasion, yet Tang Wan wanted to bring along Xu Yinyin, who knew nothing? It was hard not to think this was part of some scheme.

If Xu Yinyin offended Shengda during the meeting, wouldn’t that jeopardize the project? And would the blame then fall on both her and Xu Yinyin?

Xu Yinyin was someone the chairman had sent, and while Tang Wan’s targeting of her might make the chairman think she was unreliable, if Tang Wan used her as a scapegoat, Sun Min couldn’t afford the resulting losses.

Sun Min started sweating anxiously.

Before hearing Xu Yinyin’s inner voice, she had always thought Tang Wan was decisive and sharp—a role model she admired and sought to emulate. Now, she saw her as heartless and cold.

Fortunately, she had already learned of Xu Yinyin’s identity. While she couldn’t spell it out directly, she could still offer subtle warnings.

“Yinyin, get ready. We’re heading to Shengda Group.”

“Got it, Secretary Sun.”

Xu Yinyin quickly packed her things and followed Sun Min.

“Shengda is one of our company’s major clients. Today, we’re accompanying Tang Zong to sign the contract. You don’t need to do anything—just observe, speak less, and don’t overthink.”

“Got it, I understand.”

“I thought my second aunt wouldn’t assign me anything important. Yet she’s taking me to witness the signing of a two-billion contract. Something’s definitely up!”

“Don’t worry. After all, you’re just a receptionist. Even if they wanted you to sign, you wouldn’t have the authority. I think she’s just afraid the chairman will have opinions if you’re sidelined too long. By occasionally bringing you to high-level meetings, you gain exposure. Then, when the chairman asks, you can recount what you’ve seen, and she can report back without issue. It’s a smart move to cover all bases.”

“That’s why I say, my second uncle’s brainpower is no match for hers. She has him completely under control.”

Sun Min nodded silently in agreement. Exactly. The old man must be unlucky to have such a useless son.

Still, she felt relieved to find that Xu Yinyin was more cautious than she’d thought, and whatever she used to talk to seemed quite intelligent. Perhaps her worries were unwarranted.

Xu Yinyin glanced at Sun Min, who was leading the way, and suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

“Actually, Secretary Sun is a good person. It’s a shame she’s working under my second aunt, who doesn’t appreciate her talents. If she could earn Grandpa’s recognition, not only would her career advance, but her gambling-addict husband’s troubles could also be resolved.”

Sun Min was shocked that her personal matters were known, but when she thought about Xu Yinyin’s desk neighbor, Xue Weiwei, it all made sense. Hearing her mentioned, she couldn’t help but perk up her ears.

“How so?”

“I’ve always felt that if her husband dares to pile gambling debts on her, there must be someone advising him. This whole thing seems orchestrated—designed to push her into despair. When people hit rock bottom, they’ll grab any lifeline they see, without considering if it’s truly safe. She could end up committing crimes just to survive, mistaking the trap for salvation.”

“No way! Secretary Sun seems so nice. Who would do this to her? That’s pure evil!”

“It’s not hard to guess. Just think about who benefits most from having Secretary Sun in that situation.”

“You mean… your Second Aunt?” the system guessed hesitantly.

“Bingo! Like you said, my second aunt is cunning and meticulous. The kinder she appears on the surface, the more ruthless her moves are behind the scenes. She’s the kind of person who could sell you out, and you’d still thank her for it.”

“Oh my! What a venomous woman!”

The rest of their conversation was lost on Sun Min, as her mind replayed the first time her gambling-addict husband caused trouble at the company. Tang Wan had called in the chairman’s bodyguards to drive him off and even filed charges for harassment, landing him 15 days in detention.

Sun Min had been deeply grateful for Tang Wan’s actions. Tang Wan even gave her the head bodyguard’s private number for emergencies, giving her a sense of security.

Afterward, Tang Wan promoted her to the general manager’s office as a secretary, even allocating her a company-owned apartment to hide from her husband. She had lived peacefully for over a year.

But when rumors of the chairman drafting his will began to circulate, the entire company was thrown into chaos. People schemed and plotted while Sun Min’s fragile peace was shattered by sudden gambling debts amounting to millions.

Tang Wan had promised to help find the gambling addict’s whereabouts, but every time she asked, Tang Wan simply said there was no news.

Now, combining this with Xu Yinyin’s inner thoughts and recalling the details, it seemed more and more like she was the lamb being led to slaughter, just waiting for the hunter’s knife to fall.

Today was a clear warning.

Sun Min suddenly felt her legs go weak and stumbled a little.

Xu Yinyin quickly stepped forward to steady her and asked with concern, “Secretary Sun, are you feeling unwell?”

Sun Min forced a smile. “I’m fine, probably just low blood sugar. A piece of candy will fix it.”

Her trembling hands were just about to reach into her bag for some candy when Xu Yinyin handed her a piece of cat-shaped candy first.

The lifelike little cat head lay quietly in her palm, a small yet incredibly warm and endearing gesture.

To be fair, Xu Yinyin was merely a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, yet she could always say something sharp and insightful.

Meanwhile, Sun Min, despite years of navigating the workplace, had seemingly regressed, losing even the most basic sense of vigilance.

After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. When someone shows unexpected kindness, they often have ulterior motives.

“Thank you, Yinyin,” Sun Min said, looking at her with sincere gratitude.

“It’s just a piece of candy, Secretary Sun, no need to thank me. I should be the one thanking you for guiding me at work,” Xu Yinyin replied with a lowered voice. “I know you’ve been going easy on me. I’m the one who owes thanks.”

Sun Min couldn’t help but smile, clutching the candy tightly as if it were a lifeline.

After getting into the car, the vehicle headed toward their destination.

Tang Wan kindly reassured, “Don’t feel nervous, Yinyin. Just observe and learn from Secretary Sun. You’ll be attending such occasions often in the future.”

With that one line, Tang Wan painted herself as a caring mentor while subtly signaling her intention to groom Xu Yinyin.

If Sun Min had even a shred of jealousy, she would’ve started viewing Xu Yinyin as a rival and kept her guard up.

Xu Yinyin couldn’t help but applaud her aunt internally.

“See what I mean? My aunt really knows how to sow discord. If I were Secretary Sun, I’d definitely start being wary of Xu Yinyin, given how Aunt Tang is planning to fast-track her.”

Tang Wan silently gritted her teeth and glanced at Sun Min discreetly.

What surprised her was that Sun Min was looking back at her.

In that brief moment of eye contact, Tang Wan saw something unusual in Sun Min’s gaze—no longer submissive and obedient, but sharp and calculated, like a cat quietly licking its claws, ready to pounce at any moment.

Tang Wan frowned. Did Xu Yinyin say something to her?

That shouldn’t be possible. Tang Wan had meticulously hidden her involvement in using Sun Min’s gambling-addicted husband to set her up. How could anyone know? The system couldn’t possibly spy on the past, could it?

No, that wasn’t right. The gossip system was just for juicy tidbits, not some omniscient power. Tang Wan realized she was getting paranoid after losing so many chances to trip Xu Yinyin up.

Damn Xu Yinyin. Just wait until you mess up this deal with your gossiping. Then you’ll see what it’s like to be written off by the old man.

With that thought, Tang Wan’s gloomy mood instantly lifted.

When they reached the destination, Sun Min helped Tang Wan out of the car, then followed her with Xu Yinyin into the elevator.

They were led to the conference room by the other party’s secretary, where the negotiation team was already seated.

Xu Yinyin glanced at the lineup: one woman and four men. The woman sat at the center, her long, wavy hair cascading to her waist, complemented by a vintage Hong Kong-style makeup look. She exuded the elegant beauty of a classical goddess, absolutely timeless and radiant.

The men flanking her on either side wore sharp suits and crisp white shirts, epitomizing a polished, professional demeanor.

Unlike the usual older executives with beer bellies and balding heads, these four men were tall, lean, and youthful—a refreshing sight.

“Wow! I thought people closing billion-dollar deals would be older executives. Didn’t expect such a lineup of handsome young men and a stunning queen! Drool-worthy!”

“Hold your drool. This setup screams: the queen bee and her loyal court of admirers!”

“Huh? Are you saying it’s a one-versus-four dynamic? Elaborate, please!”

Xu Yinyin metaphorically grabbed a small bench and sat down, ready to eat this delicious piece of gossip. (Rubs hands gleefully GIF.)

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