Before Zhao Yicheng arrived, Xu Yinsheng was stretching to avoid pulling a muscle later while playing golf.
At the same time, she chatted with Jin Xinnu about some light, popular topics.
Talking about beautiful women’s videos with the guys, complaining about politics, gossiping about celebrities with the girls—who fell from grace again?
The usual stuff.
Xu Yinsheng had always relied on this trick to get what she wanted, earning her the title of forum queen and the undefeated “Spirit Master.”
When Jin Xinnu asked about Xu Yinsheng’s time as a “junior” at Jin University and her work after graduation, Xu Yinsheng would make things up if she could, or just gloss over it, changing the subject.
For example: “Senior Xinnu, what about your ex-boyfriend? Did something happen between you two? Everyone in the whole college was jealous of you both back then.”
Unlike Xu Yinsheng, who avoided the topic, Jin Xinnu didn’t try to hide anything.
She calmly said, “We just weren’t compatible.”
Xu Yinsheng appreciated that about her.
Among all her girlfriends, aside from that one crazy ex-doctor, Jin Xinnu was the one she admired most.
Her parents divorced; she was raised by her grandmother; she studied hard and lived frugally; she excelled academically.
Though her life was full of hardships, she was never weak. Instead, she had an uncommon confidence and dared to face difficulties head-on, striving upward and climbing the social ladder on her own.
If Xu Yinsheng had been in her shoes, she would have probably choked herself out of despair long ago.
They had met back in a bar when Jin Xinnu was still a college girl, youthful and full of energy.
They connected over a troublemaker, but after only a few weeks, things ended abruptly for some reason.
Well, breakups happen.
After all, Xu Yinsheng had dated plenty of girls before.
She wasn’t short of one more.
She dated just for novelty.
Once the excitement faded, so did the relationship.
But Jin Xinnu refused to give Xu Yinsheng face!
By precedent, a breakup was settled with a 500,000 yuan check.
Xu Yinsheng invited her for tea, handed over the breakup fee, and promised with her chest puffed out that though they were breaking up, Jin Xinnu could come to her for anything.
Money was the one thing Xu Yinsheng had plenty of.
Then, she watched as Jin Xinnu tore the check into shreds—and poured coffee all over her face.
That wasn’t even the worst blow to Xu Yinsheng’s pride.
When she came out of the restroom and straightened her suit, she found that Jin Xinnu had paid for her check—and even took pictures to claim compensation for the suit.
Think about it—did Xu Yinsheng lack money?
No. She lacked face.
She had no “insides,” and now—great!
She’d lost her “face” too!
Later, a few of her underlings accidentally spread the story, and the entire playboy circle found out.
Xu Yinsheng was ridiculed endlessly for it.
When Zhao Yicheng pulled up in the golf cart and arrived at the driving range, he saw Xu Yinsheng wrapping an arm around Jin Xinnu’s slim waist, both laughing and teasing each other like close girlfriends.
Xu Yinsheng was no good at studying, no good at business, and political scheming was even more out of the question.
But as the saying goes, when God closes one door, He opens a window.
She was a smooth talker—or more precisely, great at making women happy.
As one of her sketchy male friends once said, she was born with a talent for “living off others.”
Seeing the two women chatting so intimately, a strange feeling welled up in Zhao Yicheng’s heart.
Right in front of him, Xu Yinsheng showed zero awareness of being his girlfriend, leaning half on Jin Xinnu with a closeness that was striking.
She pointed to the tardy Zhao Yicheng.
“Senior Jin, let me introduce you—Zhao Yicheng. I’m sure you know him. One of my current suitors—or rather, my number one henchman.”
Xu Yinsheng’s bright eyes smiled, her brows arching with mischief, her expression dazzling.
Then she turned to Zhao Yicheng, who had changed into sportswear, teasing him.
“Xiao Zhao, now Senior Xinnu works under you. You better take good care of her.”
Hearing Xu Yinsheng’s words, Zhao Yicheng’s mouth twitched.
Sure enough, once the “cat” was out of the cage after a long time, she acted wildly, showing no signs of depression.
But that was a good thing.
Jin Xinnu glanced at Zhao Yicheng with a complicated look.
She had long known that this junior was closely connected with President Zhao of the company.
The office gossip among the young staff speculated she was either a mistress or girlfriend.
But a henchman?
The rough manner and tone sounded familiar but she couldn’t quite place it.
“Minister Jin.”
“President Zhao.”
They exchanged polite greetings and even started discussing work.
“Cut the formalities, let’s play golf.”
Watching her good friend walk away, Xu Yinsheng pouted.
She drew a golf club, swinging it a few times in the air to get a feel.
It had been a while since she last played golf.
Since being practically imprisoned by her “good brother” for almost a year, she had been living through hell, with no time for fun.
At first, she couldn’t even get a full meal, let alone golf.
Xu Yinsheng looked at the two chatting about work nearby and stomped her foot in annoyance.
She shouted to break their conversation: “Xinnu, does the club have drinks?”
“I’m a bit thirsty.”
“Yes.”
Jin Xinnu snapped out of her thoughts.
This was the club’s golf course—her part-time workplace—not the company.
“We have Tianquan Mountain airlifted Tianquan Water, Motexilisi milk, freshly brewed mocha coffee, and bartenders who can mix drinks personally.”
Jin Xinnu introduced while pulling out a few small white balls resembling ceramic with slight bumps from the golf bag, placing one on the tee in front of Xu Yinsheng.
Xu Yinsheng swung hard.
The club traced a perfect arc.
The golf ball glided through the air, landed, rolled for a bit, then stopped some distance from the hole.
“Still rusty,” Xu Yinsheng muttered.
She glanced at Zhao Yicheng a short distance away.
He swung his club with a graceful parabola and struck the white ball directly.
The ball flew a good distance and finally settled firmly in the hole.
Hole in one!!
“Nice.”
Jin Xinnu clapped excitedly.
A paid caddy always cheers for the star player.
Xu Yinsheng looked at her own ball still on the course, then at Jin Xinnu applauding Zhao Yicheng. Her ex-girlfriend clapping for another man was just too weird.
Everything always overshadowed her!
From childhood till now, always overshadowed—even in height!
Couldn’t they just let her win for once!!
“Xinnu, I want a cup of oolong tea.”
Xu Yinsheng called to the woman still cheering Zhao Yicheng.
“Okay, just a moment.”
Jin Xinnu nodded and turned to pour the tea.
While Jin Xinnu was away, Xu Yinsheng walked over to Zhao Yicheng.
Zhao Yicheng swung again, another hole in one, making Xu Yinsheng grit her teeth.
If Zhao Yicheng practiced golf daily and was consistent, she had no complaints.
But in the whole year they had been together—mostly in captivity or locked in the villa—he had spent most of that time with her.
When had he found time to practice golf?
Two balls, both holes in one!
Comparing the two, Xu Yinsheng felt a deep sense of unfairness.
She wasn’t petty enough to hate him for being better.
But who was this man?
Her former good brother, now a mentally unstable pervert, future—forget it, that disastrous future wasn’t trustworthy.
The terrible things he had done to her were enough to get him executed in a heartbeat.
And this man, worth over ten billion, company CEO, parents still alive, car, house, elite education, social elite (scratch that), psychological freak (confirmed).
Plus a girlfriend like her who could change a hundred faces and hold a harem all on her own.
Damn it, how could she not feel bitter!!
She would rather believe she was brainwashed in the future than accept that she would willingly be a submissive, meek woman.
“Xiao Yin, what’s wrong?”
Zhao Yicheng noticed her sudden change in expression, setting down his golf club with concern.
He hadn’t played golf all year.
Getting two holes in one was partly luck, but more importantly physical conditioning.
Speed, strength, precision.
Repeated training made that shot possible.
“Nothing. Just feeling a little unbalanced inside,” Xu Yinsheng sighed softly.
“Seeing my ex-girlfriend brought back memories, stirred some emotions.”
“Don’t overthink it. An ex is an ex. I’m a man of principle—won’t cheat on you, so rest easy.”
She glanced at him and added.
Zhao Yicheng bowed slightly.
Though “Xinnu” sounded a bit uncomfortable, he wasn’t about to fire her over a name.
He was President Zhao, not some tyrant CEO.
One person alone couldn’t run a company.
More talent was always welcome—especially if she was capable.
He just didn’t get why she worked on weekends.
Money problems?
The minister earned millions yearly, had full benefits, and could theoretically buy a small villa in the city after a few years.
Hobby?
Possible.
Whatever, her business was none of his.
Zhao Yicheng swung the golf club again, a beautiful arc, another hole in one.
This weekend, taking Xu Yinsheng to see a psychiatrist was the top priority.
“What are you thinking about?”
Suddenly, a small, delicate head bobbed in front of him, swaying back and forth.