Chapter 35: Blocked and Hassled by the Company’s Security at the Front Gate

After getting snubbed, Zhou Weiqi’s enthusiasm for Yang Ying visibly waned.

Yang Ying, having been well-protected by her family, was straightforward and pure by nature, always accommodated by others no matter where she went.

Not knowing how to appease Zhou Weiqi, she awkwardly changed the subject, “I want to train my abs. Can you teach me?”

As a diamond member, Zhou Weiqi couldn’t refuse her request, but he knew how to manipulate women.

With a lukewarm smile, he said, “Someone booked me in advance. I’ll guide you in training your abs when I have time.”

Yang Ying understood that despite his muscles, Zhou Weiqi had no brains—shallow and only fond of being flattered.

But at this moment, Yang Ying was very fond of Zhou Weiqi.

She reached out and held his hand. “Don’t be upset. How about I buy a set of gym equipment from you?”

What a wealthy lady!

He could easily get a commission of fifty thousand.

Zhou Weiqi grinned, saying he’d make a call to cancel another appointment and then help her train her abs.

Yang Ying smiled and nodded.

Her family—Yang’s parents and Yang Yi—had tried to encourage her to exercise by gifting her jewelry and cars, but none of it could persuade her to run for even a few more minutes.

If they knew Yang Ying started loving exercise because of some random guy, their expressions would surely be priceless.

On the other side.

Xia Yuan changed into her workout clothes and told the female coach, Heidi, that she felt her hips were too big and wanted to slim them down.

When they changed, Hedy noticed Xia Yuan’s pale, tender skin, which had visible marks left behind.

She misunderstood Xia Yuan’s request as wanting to train for a peach-shaped butt.

Nowadays, most girls training their glutes aim for that peach-shaped look.

Under Heidi guidance, Xia Yuan started doing squats, though her body was slightly unwell. Still, every beginning is difficult.

After completing a few proper squats, she felt tired.

Heidi said, “You’ve just started. Don’t push yourself too hard. Take a break.”

Xia Yuan responded, “Can I get a membership card here?”

Heidi replied, “Of course, but since you were brought here by Coach Zhou’s client, I’ll need to inform him.”

In a good mood, Zhou Weiqi readily agreed when Heidi mentioned it.

Xia Yuan seized the chance to ask, “Does Coach Zhou hold a high position at clark?”

Heidi laughed and shook her head, “I’m a senior employee here. Zhou Weiqi only joined six months ago. I think he used to be a personal trainer in Pengcheng.”

A faint gleam appeared in Xia Yuan’s eyes, as she caught an important clue but didn’t press further.

Competition in Xiangzhou is fierce in every industry, with sky-high rents—7,000 or 8,000 yuan for a 10-square-meter space—much worse than Pengcheng.

If Zhou Weiqi left Pengcheng for Xiangzhou, it could only mean one thing: he couldn’t make it in Pengcheng.

Standing in a god-like perspective, Xia Yuan easily guessed the reason—it was probably due to too many scandals and a ruined reputation.

Heidi asked, “WeChat or Alipay for payment?”

Xia Yuan said, “Credit card.”

After getting the membership card, Xia Yuan noticed the sweet interactions between Zhou Weiqi and Yang Ying. Just as she was about to approach Yang Ying to ask her out for dinner, she unexpectedly received a call from Qin Mohuai.

Heidi sat on the butterfly machine, drinking water, and when she saw Xia Yuan pull out an old-fashioned phone, she almost spat out her drink.

Heidi observed Xia Yuan seriously—a girl with delicate, smooth skin, beautiful, clear eyes, and though she wasn’t wearing any expensive jewelry, she exuded the aura of a wealthy, well-bred young lady.

Yet, she pulled out a phone worth only a few dozen yuan.

This contrast was truly dizzying.

Xia Yuan pouted, “There are too many people at your company. I don’t want to go there for lunch.”

Qin Mohuai replied, “Stop pouting.”

Xia Yuan was startled, looking around in alarm—was Qin Mohuai spying on her?

The man’s laugh was deep and magnetic. “I’m not watching you, but I can already guess you’re pouting so much you could hang a bottle on your lips. Lunch is in twenty minutes. If you leave now, you’ll make it just in time. If I don’t see you by noon, face the consequences.”

Control freak!

A tyrant who always gets his way!

Xia Yuan was furious—she wasn’t going to go.

He controlled her in bed and out, acting like some overbearing father figure.

Just then, the system chimed in: “Ouyang Jing is at Qin Corporation.”

That one sentence made Xia Yuan calm down instantly. “Didn’t she hate Qin Mohuai? Why is she at Qin Corporation?”

The system replied, “Even if the male and female leads dislike each other, the plot will still bring them together. So, you need to keep an eye on Qin Mohuai.”

Xia Yuan felt a shiver run down her spine.

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Old Master Qin had mostly retired, but as chairman of Qin Corporation, it was easy for him to arrange a position for Ouyang Jing in the secretary department.

Ouyang Jing feared that cold and ruthless man, not wanting to work under Qin Mohuai, but her mother’s tears had pushed her to the point where she couldn’t bear to see her cry herself blind.

Thus, on her first day at work, everyone knew Ouyang Jing was Qin Mohuai’s fiancée.

Ouyang Jing knocked on the door of the CEO’s office.

“Come in.”

Ouyang Jing placed the KG Hotel bid proposal on his desk, hesitating to speak.

Without looking up, Qin Mohuai said, “Just put in three days of appearances at the company, then you can go home. I’ll explain to my grandfather that we’re not compatible and can’t work together.”

Ouyang Jing breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, President Qin.”

She walked out of the office, her heels clicking softly, and smiled politely at the executives she passed. Some of the more daring ones even asked when she would be getting engaged.

Ouyang Jing awkwardly brushed them off. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, so she ducked into the break room to answer it.

Mrs. Ouyang’s voice was concerned, “Jingjing, how are you adapting to working at Qin Corporation?”

“Not very well,” Ouyang Jing admitted.

Mrs. Ouyang offered some comforting words before getting to the main point. “President Qin is planning to build another KG Hotel in Xiangzhou. It’s been the talk of the social circles. Your father has attended many business dinners, and they all say the bidding process for KG Hotel’s construction is very strict—no shortcuts, just merit.”

“But we’re not like those other families. You’re the granddaughter-in-law handpicked by Old Master Qin, and now you’re working as President Qin’s secretary. All you need to do is whisper a little pillow talk to him and secure Ouyang Corporation as the main contractor for the KG Hotel’s construction. With that, Ouyang Corporation can rise to the top of the industry again, and our family can regain its former glory.”

Ouyang Jing didn’t want to lower herself to beg for favors. Qin Mohuai was a rebellious person, but he respected her precisely because she knew her limits and when to advance or retreat.

If she were to ask for something now, how would Qin Mohuai see her?

On the other end of the line, Mrs. Ouyang started crying again, and the servants were advising her not to, worrying that she might go blind from crying too much.

Ouyang Jing’s heart burned with turmoil—on one side, her pride, on the other, the mother who had raised her.

Abandoning her dignity, she brewed a cup of coffee and carried it into the CEO’s office.

Meanwhile.

Xia Yuan was blocked at the entrance of Qin Corporation.

The security guard, remembering the instructions from higher-ups, stopped her as soon as he saw her.

“You’re not an employee of Qin Corporation. You can’t enter.”

Xia Yuan, feeling both tired and hungry, stood under the hot sun at the gate. She was so weak that her vision nearly blacked out. Her lips were pale, her energy low, and in a sickly voice, she said, “Your President Qin called me here.”

A flash of disdain crossed the guard’s eyes. “Sorry, but I haven’t received any such instruction.”

Xia Yuan didn’t want to argue. She took out her phone to make a call, but the battery was critically low and the phone shut off.

Her vision went black, and her overburdened body began to collapse.

What a bad day…