The employees nodded repeatedly. Zhou Mingyue lifted her proud chin, signaling them to scram immediately.
One of them couldn't help muttering under her breath after walking a short distance: "Did you hear that? An Ruo is just a dog in her eyes."
"You—" Zhou Mingyue wanted to rush over and teach that speaker a lesson, but a glance caught An Ruo entering the break room as if nothing had happened.
She couldn't help following her. "Since you heard them insulting you like that, why didn't you come in and confront them?"
An Ruo finished pouring water and turned around. "Would it have helped?"
"Are you too dumb from being bullied?" Zhou Mingyue shot her a contemptuous look. "When you hear that kind of talk, you should slap each of them."
"And then what?"
"What do you mean, 'and then'?"
"If I fought back, it would only invite more blatant bullying from them."
"Then that just means you're too weak. Don't blame anyone else."
An Ruo nodded, silent for a few seconds before saying, "I don't have your good family background, nor anyone to back me up. So swallowing my pride is my best choice."
She needed to stay at Lanzhen. She needed this job.
Zhou Mingyue didn't understand her weak-willed explanation and waved her hand irritably. "All excuses from the weak."
Different upbringings, different ways of being taught.
In Zhou Mingyue's world, if someone hurt her by one point, she'd repay them tenfold, and settle the score on the spot.
---
An Ruo looked at the upscale luxury mall, following behind Zhou Mingyue. "It's work hours now. Isn't it inappropriate for us to sneak out?"
"What's inappropriate about it? If I, the young miss, want to have fun, who can stop me?"
"But—"
"But what?" Zhou Mingyue carried her designer bag, drawing plenty of glances along the way. "You're just worried about getting your pay docked, aren't you?"
"..."
"Whatever they deduct from you, I'll give you double."
Hearing that, An Ruo felt a bit less anxious.
"And if Supervisor Bai fires me over this?"
Zhou Mingyue glanced at her. "With me around, who dares to fire you?"
That attitude, that presence, those domineering words—it was oddly reassuring.
An Ruo stopped trying to stop her and obediently followed behind, carrying her things.
Zhou Mingyue walked into a clothing store. The saleswoman, seeing her expensive attire, immediately flattered her and introduced the latest items in the shop.
An Ruo watched as she casually pointed at a few pieces, too lazy to go to the fitting room and just had them wrapped up.
Finally, she sat like a queen in the lounge area, pointed at An Ruo, and said, "Pick out an outfit for her. Make her look stylish."
An Ruo was taken aback. "No need, Miss Zhou. I have plenty of clothes... Thank you for your kindness."
"With your tacky taste, everything you wear is from Taobao. You might be fine with it, but I'm embarrassed!"
An Ruo: "..."
Zhou Mingyue was insistent, so An Ruo had no choice but to take the clothes the saleswoman picked for her and head into the fitting room.
She was naturally beautiful, with fair skin and lovely features. Though she lacked Zhou Mingyue's innate aristocratic air, her natural aloofness and detachment gave her the cold pride of a flower on a high peak.
When An Ruo stepped out of the fitting room, the sales staff were stunned. Even Zhou Mingyue paused, holding her teacup and nodding repeatedly. "Clothes really do make the man. Dressed up like this, I almost didn't recognize you."
Rarely hearing praise from her, An Ruo smiled slightly, looking a bit shy.
"With a face this pretty, and you never take care of it—what a waste." Zhou Mingyue pulled out her card to pay, and a few male staff helped them carry the shopping bags.
"Come on, I'll take you for a spa treatment and a new hairstyle. Don't embarrass me tonight."
An Ruo caught the key point. "Where are we going tonight?"
"To corner my A-Chao, of course." Zhou Mingyue was determined. "He's been dodging me for days. I can't let him slip away this time."
Zhou Mingyue had a crush on Gu Chao—everyone at Lanzhen knew it.
An Ruo had been by her side for a while now, witnessing her various attempts to win Gu Chao over, always getting the cold shoulder, sticking to him like glue, practically wanting to cling to him.
She didn't understand why a young lady with Zhou Mingyue's family background, looks, and figure would fixate on a man who clearly despised her.
---
Red Wine Club.
A supercar pulled up at the entrance. The driver respectfully opened the door, and a woman stepped out in dazzling attire, her high heels studded with diamonds clicking on the ground.
An Ruo pushed the door and got out. As soon as her foot touched the ground, she nearly stumbled in the unfamiliar heels, but Zhou Mingyue caught her just in time.
Zhou Mingyue held her steady, complaining, "Are you even a woman? You can't walk in heels. You need to learn."
"I don't wear them often..." An Ruo thanked her and slowly adjusted to the height. "I've just never worn ones this high."
Today, Zhou Mingyue had dressed her from head to toe, so exquisitely that even An Ruo couldn't believe her own reflection in the mirror.
A waiter led them to the second floor. Zhou Mingyue gave her instructions along the way.
"I'm going to have dinner with A-Chao later. Find a spot to amuse yourself. Eat or drink whatever you want—just put it on my tab, and no one will bother you."
Miss Zhou really was generous.
Still, An Ruo thought to herself, whether CEO Gu would agree to have dinner with her was another question entirely!
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open, and several men came face to face with them.
The man at the front was Gu Chao. Zhou Mingyue, delighted by the unexpected encounter, rushed into his arms.
"A-Chao!"
An Ruo clearly heard Gu Chao curse under his breath in frustration. As she looked up, the man hidden in the elevator's shadows widened his eyes in surprise, then pulled the person beside him in front of himself.
Huo Jinyan looked confused, turning suspiciously to see the man hiding behind him, but was stopped by a low voice: "Don't move!"
An Ruo peeked over. Strange—she thought she saw Shen Xiaoxing!?