Caught with her heart laid bare, Liu Weiwei's cheeks flushed as she murmured, "I told him to bring eleven roses today to meet me. Yingfei, do you think he'll show?"
As expected, it was about him. Song Yingfei didn't know what to say. Such a remarkable woman, about to be ruined by that man. What a waste.
"Dump him, then!" Yingfei scoffed, not mincing words. "He's not the only guy out there. You don't think the world stops spinning without him, do you?" She desperately wanted this mismatched romance to crash and burn, refusing to say a single kind word about Lei Zhengyang.
"Without him, the world keeps turning," Weiwei replied softly, "but without him, I'll never be happy again."
Pinning her happiness on a man like that? Yingfei couldn't fathom it. Liu Weiwei's tenderness now was a stark contrast to her razor-sharp decisiveness in business. Perhaps the heavens balanced things out—giving you strength in one area while saddling you with vulnerabilities in others.
Though she'd mentally cursed Lei Zhengyang a thousand times, Yingfei forced herself to console her friend. "Relax, Weiwei. A woman like you? No man could resist. Your elegance, your charm, your allure—they're every man's dream. Unless he's blind, he'll crawl here if he has to."
"Really?" A spark of joy flickered across Weiwei's wistful face.
Watching her, Yingfei seethed, tempted to hurl a kettle at Lei Zhengyang's face. You ruin everyone else, fine, but why my friend? What did I ever do to you?
"He'll come," she said, forcing a smile. In her heart, she thought: Better not show, you bastard. Just drop dead!
Lei Zhengyang stood at the front desk of Tianding Group's towering headquarters. Though he preferred a low profile since returning to the city, today he couldn't avoid attention. In his hand was a bouquet of exactly eleven roses, as Liu Weiwei had requested—a symbol of singular devotion.
Despite knowing his past, she still threw herself at him like a moth to a flame. Lei knew he couldn't refuse her. He didn't want to hurt her, but from the moment they met, some wounds were inevitable.
If resistance was futile, why not embrace it? Liu Weiwei was, after all, an exceptional woman, wasn't she?
So, he came. But aside from employees passing by or whispering about him, no one recognized him.
The polite, delicate receptionist smiled warmly. "Sir, how can I assist you?" Her eyes lingered on the roses, guessing he was here to woo one of Tianding's beauties. His handsome face and sunny grin made him instantly likable.
"I'm looking for Liu Weiwei. I think she's your operations president…" Lei trailed off. Weiwei had mentioned it yesterday, but he wasn't sure. He barely knew Tianding Group, let alone Tianhua Group. Visits to such family empires could be counted on his fingers.
The receptionist hesitated. For a regular manager, she could make a call, but a vice-president? She didn't have the nerve. Liu Weiwei, the stunning new president, was a magnet for admirers, with suitors sending flowers daily. The GM's office had issued a strict no-visitors policy for non-business matters.
"Sorry, sir, I can't arrange non-business meetings," she said. "And, if I may, President Liu has many admirers sending flowers. Yours… well, they're the smallest bouquet yet."
Lei burst out laughing. Even his modest flowers earned him scorn. Apparently, good looks were out, and deep pockets were in.
Sighing, he said, "Fair enough. Can you at least tell me what floor she's on?"
"Thirty-fifth," she replied, then quickly added, "Oh, sir, you can't go up without permission! See those security guards? They're watching you." She'd let it slip but issued a warning. The lobby's guards weren't pushovers.
Lei turned, tossing back a "Thanks for the heads-up, but I'm going up anyway."
The receptionist blinked, stunned. Didn't I just say he can't? Why was he heading for the elevator? After a moment, she shouted, "Stop him! He's an unauthorized suitor!"
Two guards—a burly one and a lean one—strode over, their eyes glinting with menace. Everyone expected Lei to be dragged out, but instead, the guards hit the floor, groaning. Lei had been gentle, causing pain without injury.
As he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, Tianding Group's alarm blared. Chaos erupted. What was happening to trigger the alarm? Security mobilized, swarming every floor to intercept the intruder.
Liu Weiwei and Song Yingfei were mid-conversation when the siren startled them. They rushed out, just as the assistant hung up a call. "Chairwoman, the front desk says one of President Liu's admirers took down two guards in the lobby. He's on his way up in the elevator."
Both women froze. Yingfei cursed, "That bastard! Showing up is one thing, but causing a scene like this?"
Weiwei's hands clutched her skirt, her voice trembling with nerves. "He's here. He really came. Do I look okay? I need a mirror!"
Yingfei grabbed her before she could dart off. "You're already gorgeous, I swear. Come on, let's see if this is the man you've been pining for."
The elevator doors opened, and Lei stepped out, instantly sensing a wave of hostility. Five or six hulking security guards blocked his path, their aura far more formidable than the lobby duo. These were the elite, assigned to the executive floor.
"Sir, you've violated company protocol," the lead guard, a middle-aged man, said sternly. "Surrender now and stand against the wall, or we'll use force." He squinted at Lei, a flicker of recognition passing through him. This man seemed familiar.
Lei was a far cry from the Lei Zhengyang of a year ago. His once-dyed blonde hair was now jet-black, his former decadence replaced by a radiant confidence. The security manager, well-versed in the capital's elite circles, should've known him as a notorious playboy. But Lei's transformation was too drastic for instant recognition.
Lei grinned lightly. "Relax, I'm not here to fight. Call your President Liu out. But if you want to spar, I'm game."
Tianding's security wasn't just for show—it was a covert arm of the Song family's power. Many were retired elite soldiers, absorbed into the family's ranks. Lei was curious to test the strength of their forces.
From a nearby doorway, Liu Weiwei, buzzing with excitement, nearly rushed out, but Yingfei held her back. "Hold on. Didn't you say this guy's a fighter? Let's see what real fighting looks like." Yingfei's eyes gleamed with anticipation. She couldn't avenge last year's grudge, but watching Lei get roughed up would be satisfying enough.
The guards charged, and the brawl erupted. Lei, cradling the roses in one hand, struck with the other, his fists a blur. A single kick sent two guards crashing into each other, stunning the manager. He knew these men's caliber—former special forces, not pushovers.
"Stand down!" the manager barked. The injured guards retreated, clutching their wounds. He stepped forward, ready to take Lei on himself.
His skill was impressive, wielding a blend of Eagle Claw Fist infused with military boxing—a creative, potent mix. As the security manager, his prowess was unexpected but undeniable.
Lei tested him, then smirked. "Trained by Ning Buluan, huh? Not bad—better than Zhou Hongjun. But you're still no match for me. My fists? You can't handle them."