Chapter 69: Masterminding Victory from Afar

Message notifications sounded one after another, dragging Jiang Zao out of her dreams and back into reality.

She rolled over, groped for her phone on the bedside table, and managed to open one eye to read the string of messages.

All of them came from Meng Qiaoyuan and concerned Li Mingyi.

Sitting up, she scrolled through one screenshot after another from Moments, finding it increasingly hilarious with every swipe.

This was someone who had until recently been known for his cool, noble, and focused persona—yet now, without warning, he’d started behaving outrageously.

“One chance at love at first sight in a lifetime. I thought missing it meant it was gone forever. The gods in the heavens never fall, but let me build your temple—just grant me a moment’s pause as you ride the clouds!”

Attached: A picture of Zhou Jiayan’s back as she drinks.

“Young people don’t understand why social status has to match up, but it’s fine. I have enough capital to wait for you to grow up, dear girl—forever your harbor!”

Attached: A cropped shot of Du Bin opening the car door for Zhou Jiayan.

“I’m serious! I’ve never been this earnest before! My girl! Look at me! I’m captivated by you! Driven mad by you! You are the moon in the sky to me! I’d gladly accompany you to sleep every night and watch your gentle smile!”

Attached: Zhou Jiayan leaning against the trunk of a sports car, playing on her phone.

Jiang Zao cleared her throat and sent a voice message: “This guy… did he ever pass Chinese class?”

Meng Qiaoyuan replied with a voice message too; the echo made it sound as if she was in the bathroom. “He finished elementary school here before going to Russia. He only came back last year, so his Chinese really isn’t great.”

Jiang Zao yawned. “I didn’t expect a culturally rich country like Russia to produce someone so verbally inept. Disjointed logic, muddled words—this is borderline harassment. We should call the police.”

Meng Qiaoyuan was laughing. “I think that’s a good idea. Let him see what our police officers are made of.”

Of course, Li Mingyi’s only crime was a lack of tact—nothing truly outrageous. Even if the police took the case, at most he’d get a verbal warning.

Jiang Zao exited the chat and switched to other social media platforms.

With Li Mingyi’s phone number that Meng Qiaoyuan sent, she found his accounts on various platforms, following and scrolling through his activity. Her gaze landed on a pinned short video ad.

She returned to the chat and messaged Meng Qiaoyuan, “He only owns one bar? Any other businesses?”

Meng Qiaoyuan replied after a pause, “He opened a murder mystery club recently, but it’s not doing well. The scripts aren’t great quality, and business is mediocre.”

Jiang Zao then checked out the group-buying and review platforms. Sure enough, there were a handful of simple comments on the business page—obviously paid for.

She replied to Meng Qiaoyuan with a cute cat emoji, stretched, and got out of bed to wash up.

She had a pretty good idea what Li Mingyi was up to.

When a tree grows tall, it catches the wind; Zhou Jiayan had become a wealthy woman overnight, attracting countless eyes. Li Mingyi was just the first, and he wouldn’t be hard to deal with.

Bathed in morning sunshine and sipping fresh soy milk, Jiang Zao finished her breakfast, her plans for the day already forming in her mind.

…

In Du Bin’s detached villa.

Miss Zhou lay sprawled in bed, lazily eyeing the man beside her as he changed, bare-chested.

Du Bin’s body was all sculpted muscle, his skin bronzed, scattered with bite marks and his back lined with fresh scratches.

Zhou Jiayan flexed her fingers, examining her nails. She should have scratched harder, drawn blood even. It was too early in the morning for such nonsense—she couldn’t even sleep in.

Du Bin dressed, leaned down, and kissed her. “Boss Zhou has a meeting today. I have to be there. I’ll have someone bring you breakfast—get some more sleep.”

She pushed his face away. “Go away. You’re annoying.”

He gave her a hearty smack on the rear through the covers. “It’s almost the New Year. Don’t go stirring up trouble. Zhou is in no state for surprises right now. Once things calm down, I’ll take you traveling.”

Zhou Jiayan poked her head from under the covers, looking at him. “Did you tell him I’m going to Changzhou to see Jiang Zao?”

He shook his head.

She let out a breath. “Good. Jiang Zao is still upset. Don’t blurt things out in front of Zhou. His brain’s fried—he’s lost all sense of decency.”

Du Bin ruffled her hair. “You’re the only one who can talk about him like that. He’s… in a lot of pain right now.”

“He deserves it!” She couldn’t stand Du Bin defending Zhou, so she turned her back to him. “Go away. You give me a headache.”

Du Bin bent down and kissed the top of her head. “I’m leaving. Remember to eat.”

She waved him off with exaggerated relief, glad to see the back of him.

As soon as she heard the car leave the garage, Zhou Jiayan shot out of bed, gathering her things to head out.

Who cared about breakfast? Nothing could beat Sister Qiaoyuan’s handmade wontons. Time to sneak out for a free meal!

Halfway there, her phone rang several times.

She checked it during a red light—all messages from Li Mingyi.

She was speechless.

He already knew about her and Du Bin; even if she hadn’t spelled it out, anyone could see it from the way Du Bin behaved.

Li Mingyi had to be pretending—acting ignorant, deliberately ignoring Du Bin’s presence.

You shouldn’t use your phone while driving.

Repeating the traffic rules to herself, she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat.

They’d known each other since childhood, but only this year did he say he liked her. She didn’t buy it.

Being pursued isn’t always a pleasure—especially not by someone you don’t even like.

After days of being bombarded on social media, Zhou Jiayan felt she’d lost all her dignity.

Meanwhile, Li Mingyi seemed to think his relentless posts were working—her engagement meant progress. Instead of backing off, he only grew more brazen.

Meng Qiaoyuan was making wontons when Zhou Jiayan knocked on the door. She barely batted an eye, simply insisted she disinfect at the entrance before letting her in.

Zhou Jiayan sat down at the dining table, set her phone down with a thud, and poured herself some water without ceremony. “Sister Qiaoyuan, did you know I’d come?”

Meng Qiaoyuan nodded. “I knew you’d sniff your way over after seeing my wonton post. No need for an invitation.”

Zhou Jiayan raised an eyebrow. “You know me so well. Tell me—are you secretly in love with me? Too bad I already have Du Bin and can’t accept your feelings.”

Meng Qiaoyuan, setting down two bowls of wontons, said, “Are you out of your mind? Is Li Mingyi’s influence really that strong?”