Volume One, Chapter 23: Miss Zhou, I’m an Only Child—I Don’t Have a Younger Sister

Initially, Xiao Lian did not want to pass on this message, but Zhou Qing threatened that if she did not, she would jump off the Tang Corporation building. Xiao Lian dared not make such a significant decision on her own, so she had no choice but to relay the message.

"She also said that if you refuse to see her, she will jump off our building."

Lin Jie stood up abruptly. "What does she want?!" If she wants to die, let her go die elsewhere; she shouldn't drag the Tang Corporation into it!

Tang Ruan patted Lin Jie’s shoulder soothingly and asked Xiao Lian, "Where is she?"

"She said she is near the company," Xiao Lian replied quickly.

"Bring her to see me."

Xiao Lian sighed in relief. "Yes." She left the office and contacted Zhou Qing, telling her to wait in the lobby of the Tang Corporation so she could be escorted up.

"Ruanruan, there is no need for you to see a lunatic like that." If she threatens to kill herself and jump off a building at the drop of a hat, what else could she be but a lunatic?

Tang Ruan’s fingertips traced the surface of her desk, and she spoke calmly: "I can't just let her jump off the Tang Corporation building." Although it would be Zhou Qing's own choice to jump, and it would have nothing to do with the company, the moment she jumped from their building, the Tang Corporation would be dragged into the controversy and would have a hard time clearing its name. There was no reason to let the Tang Corporation bear such a risk for someone so insignificant. Moreover, she was curious to know what Zhou Qing wanted to say to her.

***

In the downstairs lobby, Xiao Lian stepped out of the elevator and looked toward the entrance, spotting Zhou Qing waiting anxiously outside. Her face looked worn, and there were dark, heavy circles under her eyes. However, her attire was much better than when they had first met. Xiao Lian recognized at a glance that Zhou Qing was wearing a light luxury brand called Nua; that jacket alone cost nearly a thousand.

When Zhou Qing saw Xiao Lian, her eyes lit up. She knew Xiao Lian was Tang Ruan’s secretary.

Besides Zhou Qing, Huo Yanchuan also saw Xiao Lian. He assumed Tang Ruan had sent her down to fetch him. She had ostensibly blocked his contact information, yet she turned around and sent her secretary down to pick him up. Women—ha.

"Let’s go." Xiao Lian’s voice was cold and emotionless, strictly professional.

Huo Yanchuan wore an expression of "I knew it," raised an eyebrow slightly, and began to follow Xiao Lian. After two steps, Xiao Lian noticed something was wrong. She turned her head and saw that the person following her was not Zhou Qing, but Huo Yanchuan. "Young Master Huo, I wasn't talking to you." To prevent any further mishaps, she addressed her by name: "Zhou Qing, come with me."

"Okay!" Zhou Qing followed Xiao Lian with a single stride.

The security guard spread his arms, blocking Huo Yanchuan. "Young Master Huo, please step back."

Huo Yanchuan’s face darkened with a complex, murky expression. "Why is she allowed in?"

The security guard didn't even look back. "Little Director Tang wants to see her." Since the young director wanted to see her, she could naturally enter. Since she didn't want to see Huo Yanchuan, he could not.

***

In Tang Ruan’s office, "Little Director Tang, I’ve brought her."

As soon as Zhou Qing entered, she rushed to Tang Ruan’s desk and fell to her knees with a thud. Xiao Lian was startled by the sudden gesture and looked at Tang Ruan for guidance. Tang Ruan waved her hand. "You can head out first."

"Yes." Xiao Lian quickly left the office, closing the door thoughtfully behind her.

"Get up."

Zhou Qing shook her head like a rattle. Tang Ruan didn't dwell on whether she stayed on the floor or not; if she wanted to kneel, there was nothing she could do about it. "So, what do you want?"

"Sister Tang, I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong."

Ever since Tang Ruan joined the Tang Corporation, all external charitable affairs had passed through her hands. Her proposal to provide scholarships to A University was her own idea. The first recipient was a girl named Zhu Ting. She had excellent grades, but because her family was impoverished and favored sons over daughters—raising her only to be married off for a bride price for her younger brother—they refused to provide her with tuition or living expenses. It was only by threatening to kill herself that she had managed to secure her place at A University. Given the circumstances, the university waived her tuition, but living expenses remained an unavoidable burden. With her heavy academic workload, Zhu Ting had very little time for part-time work, forcing her to scramble between classes and jobs.

The day Tang Ruan met her, she had just come out of a convenience store near A University where she worked part-time. Her face was sallow, her clothes hung loosely on her frame, and she was so thin she looked like a gust of wind could knock her over. Later, she collapsed in front of Tang Ruan. After Tang Ruan sent her to the hospital, the doctor diagnosed her with hypoglycemia caused by long-term malnutrition. That day, upon returning to the company, Tang Ruan began drafting the proposal. Although her surname was Tang, the company was not a one-woman show; any internal decision had to be approved by the board of directors. She worked as fast as she could to get the proposal recognized and implemented.

Zhu Ting was the first A University student to receive a scholarship from the Tang Corporation. It later proved that this decision was highly effective. In a campus interview, Zhu Ting referred to Tang Ruan as "Sister Tang." Tang Ruan did not refute the title, and from then on, students at A University who liked her affectionately called her by that name, especially those receiving the scholarships.

Tang Ruan glanced at Zhou Qing, then looked away coolly, correcting her: "Miss Zhou, I am an only child. I do not have a younger sister."

Zhou Qing’s face turned as pale as paper.

"Now, state your purpose directly." She didn't have time to waste here.

Zhou Qing swayed, then gritted her teeth and revealed the purpose of her visit: "Miss Tang, can you please show mercy and stop holding this against me?"

She had been driven nearly insane lately. Ever since the scandal involving Lu Xiaorou broke, she had been caught in the crossfire. Her followers plummeted, and netizens claimed that "birds of a feather flock together"—if she could hang out with Lu Xiaorou, she couldn't be a good person either. Although she was afraid and resentful, a portion of her fans had still been willing to believe in her, and the benefactor who had previously sponsored her told her not to overthink things and to focus on her studies. Combined with the money she had saved during her peak popularity, her daily life hadn't been too affected.

But in the last two days, many things from her past had been exposed. The remaining fans collectively unfollowed her, and her benefactor withdrew their support. Her classmates were gossiping and avoiding her like the plague. She had spent money to hire people to investigate who was sabotaging her, but despite the rivers of money spent, she had no results. After thinking about it all night, she concluded it must be Tang Ruan. First, she had offended her repeatedly and helped Lu Xiaorou mock her; surely, Tang Ruan hated her. Second, if a private investigator she paid handsomely couldn't find anything, the culprit must be someone with status, background, and money—and the only person she knew who fit that description was Tang Ruan.

Therefore, it had to be Tang Ruan taking action against her! She was punishing her for helping Lu Xiaorou back then!

Tang Ruan shook her head. "You're overthinking it." She hadn't done anything; how could she show mercy?

However, Zhou Qing felt that Tang Ruan was simply unsatisfied with her sincerity and didn't want to let her off the hook. Her eyes darted around, and she came up with an idea. "Miss Tang, I know you hate Lu Xiaorou. I can help you expose her true colors."

"Don't worry, Miss Tang, I will definitely make you satisfied!"

With that, not waiting for Tang Ruan’s response, she stood up and said to her with smug confidence: "Just wait for my good news."