“Cai Jing’er.”
The moment Zhuāng Yán heard this familiar name, her heart skipped a beat, and her pupils instantly contracted.
“That Rou Rou.”
Her mind immediately started racing.
She reached out and grabbed Bái Róuróu’s arm, quickly saying, “How about I give you the day off today? Go home and take some time to adjust your mood.”
“Zhuāng jiě, I’m fine.”
Upon hearing Zhuāng Yán’s words, Bái Róuróu thought she might be unhappy with her lack of emotional control and was trying to send her home.
“I… I just suddenly felt a bit sad, but I’ll be fine soon.”
The girl hurriedly wiped her eyes and then forced a smile.
“That’s not what I meant. Your salary will still be paid; I just want to give you a day off.”
Zhuāng Yán was anxious and immediately pulled a few bills out of her drawer, stuffing them into Róuróu’s arms without counting.
“Go home quickly.”
Bái Róuróu looked utterly confused, staring at the money in her hands, wondering what Zhuāng jiě meant by this.
Judging by her expression, it didn’t seem like a fake offer.
But since she could get paid without working, Bái Róuróu naturally agreed.
She bowed sincerely to say thank you and then turned to leave.
“Phew~”
Watching the girl’s departing figure, Zhuāng Yán wiped the cold sweat off her forehead.
She never expected the perverted, vicious woman Róuróu mentioned to actually be Cai Jing’er!
That name was infamous throughout A City—not only for her ruthless methods but also for the terrifying power backing her.
To name one thing, there was no other legitimate financial company in A City; the entire enterprise was fully acquired by Zhanglong Capital under Quanlian Group and then relocated here.
Later, the Cai Group from A Province invested capital as well.
Although the financial company’s market value was only a few hundred million, its strong background was impossible to ignore.
Jingxue Capital—that was the name of the financial company.
And its helmsman was just a freshman in college.
Handing over such assets for her to casually practice on meant no one truly knew the hidden power behind her.
Most importantly, everyone knew the boss was acquainted with Cai Jing’er and that Cai Jing’er was a lesbian who liked girls.
So it was only natural for them to know about Yuehua Garden.
Coincidentally, today the boss had invited Cai Jing’er over.
To show off in front of the boss, Cai Jing’er had even prepared a full-suite service. Who would have thought…
Suddenly, the door was forcefully pushed open, breaking Zhuāng Yán’s train of thought.
Níng Zǐhán burst in anxiously, shouting, “Zhuāng jiě, come quickly! Róuróu has been beaten!”
“What?” Zhuāng Yán’s heart instantly filled with a foreboding feeling.
Could it be she ran into Cai Jing’er?
***
A few minutes earlier.
Cai Jing’er got out of the car, followed by two female bodyguards, accompanying the boss of Yuehua Garden to a well-known lesbian bar in A City.
“The decoration is indeed quite nice.”
Entering through the front door, Cai Jing’er’s eyes lit up. She found the decor suited her tastes perfectly.
“This is just the outer door. The real fun is in here.”
The boss was a noblewoman, dressed elegantly, a mysterious smile on her face as she led the way toward a dimly lit door.
Before the noblewoman could open it, the door swung open on its own, and a girl almost collided face-to-face with them.
“Ah, sorry, sorry!” Bái Róuróu quickly apologized.
“You must be Róuróu, right?”
The boss naturally recognized Bái Róuróu.
She had always kept an eye on this girl who boosted the bar’s business and had seen her pictures, though today was the first time she met her in person.
“Cai Zong, this is our bar’s star employee. Many customers really like her!”
“You mean, this is your staff?”
At the sound of the familiar voice, Bái Róuróu’s body trembled violently.
Her soft eyes immediately darted toward the figure behind the noblewoman.
That face—one she could never forget—came into view.
Cai Jing’er!
How could Cai Jing’er be here?
It felt like an invisible hand gripped her neck tightly, making it hard for her to breathe.
“Of course.”
The boss reached out and gently pushed the girl.
“Call her Cai Zong quickly.”
The girl trembled all over as she stood before Cai Jing’er, her voice quivering with fear as she timidly called out, “Cai… Cai Zong.”
The next moment.
Smack!
The girl was suddenly slapped hard across the face, her entire body slammed into the nearby wall with the force.
Her neatly tied twin ponytails came undone, her long hair falling messily over her face, hiding her features.
“What… what’s going on?”
The boss looked confused. Why had Cai Zong suddenly hit someone?
“Nothing. Bái Róuróu and I have a history. I didn’t expect to find her working here.”
Cai Jing’er spoke calmly, but anyone with eyes could see the fury bubbling inside this female CEO.
“Then this…”
The noblewoman was at a loss.
This felt like a girlfriend caught cheating and then discovered by the rightful partner.
But Zhuāng Yán had told her Bái Róuróu was struggling financially and only worked here to earn money.
Could Cai Jing’er be hiding her true identity and playing the novel’s usual tricks?
Or was she deliberately withholding money from Bái Róuróu?
No one knew.
The noblewoman’s mind was already spinning with possibilities.
Meanwhile, Bái Róuróu’s head was ringing from the slap.
She leaned against the wall, trying to regain her composure, but the burning pain on her face made her tremble uncontrollably.
“So this is where you work?”
Cai Jing’er stepped forward again, roughly yanking the girl into her face and forcing her chin up.
Bái Róuróu’s tear-filled soft eyes stared straight at Cai Jing’er.
She bit her lip tightly, forcing herself silent.
“You disgust me!”
Upon hearing this, the noblewoman felt awkward.
This was her bar, and the employees were being bullied by Cai Zong without daring to speak up.
But there was nothing she could do.
Even if Cai Zong tore the place down, she wouldn’t dare say a word.
“Then please let me go.”
Bái Róuróu’s eyes were full of stubbornness as she said defiantly, “If you think I’m dirty, then stop bothering me.”
Hearing this, Cai Jing’er’s fury grew.
In her eyes, Bái Róuróu was her personal toy.
She never expected the girl to be working in such a place right under her nose—and to dare demand she let her go?
Ha, never!
“Don’t even think about it.”
Cai Jing’er’s voice was icy cold.
She squeezed harder, causing Bái Róuróu to wince in pain and struggle.
“Let me go, you pervert!”
Even like a trapped young beast with weak resistance, Bái Róuróu desperately swung her claws and bared her teeth in defiance.
“Are you a dog?”
Cai Jing’er bit back in anger, losing all mercy as she punched the girl in the stomach.
“Ugh ah!”
Bái Róuróu’s face twisted in pain.
All the courage and strength she had just gathered instantly shattered from the blow.
“Who are you? Why are you hitting Bái Róuróu?”
The commotion at the door attracted the attention of others.
Many customers who liked or even adored Bái Róuróu heard she was being beaten and immediately came over.
“Help! Help—ugh ugh ugh!”
Bái Róuróu tried to scream for help but Cai Jing’er quickly covered her mouth.
“Sorry, looks like I’ll have to visit again another time.”
Cai Jing’er apologized to the noblewoman, then forcefully took Bái Róuróu away with her two bodyguards.
“Boss, who was that? How could they just take Róuróu away in broad daylight like that?”
Some customers were already pulling out their phones, ready to call the police.
The noblewoman hurried to stop them, half-truthfully explaining, “Róuróu is that lady’s girlfriend. She was found working here part-time, so…”
She left the rest unsaid, hoping the customers would understand.
“Róuróu already has a girlfriend?”
Many female customers felt a pang of sadness and regret.
They had thought Bái Róuróu didn’t understand the nature of Yuehua Garden and had planned to slowly win her over, only to find out she was already a lesbian and had a girlfriend!
“Where’s Róuróu? Is she okay?”
At that moment, Zhuāng Yán hurried over, seeing a sparse crowd of customers chatting, and the boss looking oddly pale.
“Bái Róuróu was pretty badly beaten by Cai Zong.”
The noblewoman shrugged helplessly, “At least from how fragile and weak Róuróu looks, she really took a beating.”
“Sigh~”
Zhuāng Yán sighed, “Luckily it’s still early, and there aren’t even ten customers here yet. Otherwise, it would have been a terrible scene.”
The noblewoman didn’t care much.
Running this bar wasn’t about making money.
She asked curiously, “Do you know the relationship between Cai Zong and Bái Róuróu?”
Hearing this, Zhuāng Yán hesitated for a moment but then honestly recounted everything Bái Róuróu had said.
“Oh, I didn’t expect Cai Zong to be such a person.”
The noblewoman clicked her tongue.
She had known some people would forcibly take others’ women, but those who succeeded usually gave money and housing.
Cai Zong’s harsh coercion without giving a cent was rare indeed.
“All right, keep this information to yourself. Besides you and me, no one else must know.”
The noblewoman ate a refreshing melon, looking quite satisfied.
Then, with a serious expression, she warned Zhuāng Yán before turning to leave.
“What is all this about?”
Zhuāng Yán was troubled.
Finally having such a perfect employee, and now she was suddenly gone.
Sigh~