Carrying Desperation to the End

XenaXu suddenly felt terrible.

She didn't know why.

FyrenZhang had said he liked Chloe. Even though she knew he was bullshitting, it still upset her.

As for why—she didn't bother analyzing it.

"FyrenZhang, you're spending over 10 billion dollars to pick up a girl? That's insane! For that kind of money, you could have any big celebrity you want. A secretary—is she really worth it?"

FyrenZhang snapped angrily, "Just hurry up and save her! Why are you wasting time talking nonsense?"

"You're yelling at me!"

"Huh?" FyrenZhang froze, then quickly softened his tone. "Did I—did I yell? No, right? Haha, no, no. Oops, I'm—cough—it's just the echo in here. Good sister, dear sister, sweetest sister—Xena is the best, the cutest, the most compassionate, the kindest. Save her for me, and I'll give you all the shares, every last one. The factory will be yours, the Xu family's. I'll never show my face around you again. Please, please, please..."

"Fine, I'll take a look. After I take a bath, do my hair, and when I'm in a good mood—maybe I'll swing by."

"Hey, you—"

Beep beep beep...

The call ended.

Zoey put away the phone and glared at FyrenZhang. "Still 'saving lives'?"

"Yeah, yeah."

FyrenZhang didn't have the energy to argue.

[Does that count as a yes? It has to! There's no way she'd refuse an offer like that!]

[She'll do it—she's not heartless enough to let someone die. Please, please, please save her!]

Zoey had heard FyrenZhang's desperate inner voice earlier and thought she was imagining things.

This time, she heard it clearly. Her expression shifted as she studied him more seriously.

With a mocking smirk, she asked, "Young Master Fyren goes all out when chasing girls, huh? This one must be some plain-looking nobody, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

FyrenZhang wasn't even listening.

He turned away, slumping onto the bench and leaning against the wall exhaustedly.

[I can't keep doing this. I need to drag OttoLong back ASAP—I'm tired of cleaning up his messes.]

[First, I stirred up trouble with ElizaLeng, now I'm saving Chloe's mom... Who knows how this mess will unfold next?]

[I don't care about the 10 billion. At all. Worst case, my dad beats my ass, and I become the laughingstock of Northlandia.]

[I'm a louse that's not afraid of being bitten—anyway, my reputation's already rotten to the core. The most important thing is... the person must be saved!]

Zoey felt this situation was becoming strangely fascinating.

How could she hear this guy's thoughts so clearly?

Instead of leaving, Zoey leaned against the railing. "Well? Explain yourself."

"Huh? Explain what?"

"What's really going on?"

FyrenZhang smiled helplessly. "Chasing girls! I've done plenty of ridiculous things—this isn't even that bad."

"FyrenZhang, don't think you can fool me. Sure, you've done unethical, absurd things before, but when it comes to money, you've never been careless. Spending over 10 billion to chase some girl? That's a loss you'd never accept—unless it's for ElizaLeng or CoraChen. The FyrenZhang I know would only spend 10 billion if he could make 30 billion back."

"What's it to you if I lose a few billion?"

FyrenZhang saw no reason to humor her.

Now that the call was over and she wasn't actually helping—plus she was OttoLong's woman anyway—why should he be polite?

"Oh? XenaXu just earned over 10 billion for saving someone. Since I made the call for you, shouldn't I get something too?"

FyrenZhang stood and approached the railing, meeting Zoey's gaze unflinchingly:

"Of course you'll be compensated. Once I'm out in a few hours, I'll buy you a premium adult toy set. That way when you're lonely, you can fantasize about my amazing body at home and... entertain yourself to cloud nine. Sound good?"

Zoey's face instantly paled with rage, her silver teeth gritted. "FyrenZhang!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm scum. We established that."

Zoey escorted FyrenZhang to the holding cell.

Two hours later, when she returned, the scene stunned her.

Three inmates knelt in a perfect line on the floor—one polishing FyrenZhang's shoes while the other two sat rigidly at attention, all sporting swollen noses.

FyrenZhang lounged in a chair against the wall, arms behind his head, whistling casually.

Sometimes FyrenZhang truly couldn't comprehend it.

A man like him—who should've been a pillar of society, a leader in local economics, a respected success story—why had he become the villain? And not just any villain, but a pathetic "dog-licking" one?

He possessed:

Hundreds of billions in assets

Advanced education

Mountaineering and skydiving experience (10,000-meter jumps)

Participation in Spain's Running of the Bulls

Fluency in four languages

Dual master's degrees

Expertise in boxing, swimming, skiing, and basketball

He's tall and handsome, putting those heavily made-up pretty boys to shame. Dressed in a tailored suit, he exudes a proper tough-guy aura and leadership charisma.

So why must he degrade himself as a lickspittle, brainlessly stealing women from Otto Long only to get killed by him in the end?

Even if he's a playboy who enjoys having fun, why not be like Eason Chen?

Just crook a finger, and seductive beauties would throw themselves at him. Park any supercar in the CBD, and young gorgeous girls would flock to add him on WeChat.

Why must he act like a brainless idiot, obsessing over those few heroines?

Zoey stared at the three men kneeling on the ground, fury rising.

"FyrenZhang, did you hit them?"

"Disappointed?" FyrenZhang stood up and sauntered to the railing, smirking. "You locked me in here hoping they'd beat me up, didn't you?"

Zoey had indeed expected exactly that—not seeing this bastard suffer would leave her unsatisfied.

But why were these three such useless trash? Weren't they usually arrogant thugs? Three against one and they couldn't win?

Zoey barked, "Did he assault you?"

FyrenZhang turned to the trio. "Tell her. Did I hit you?"

The three immediately waved their hands frantically.

"No no no! We hit ourselves!"

"Yeah, self-inflicted!"

"Young Master Fyren is wonderful—civilized and polite! He shouldn't be jailed! Officer, you've made a mistake! How could you arrest such a good person?"

FyrenZhang shot Zoey a smug look, his narrowed eyes taunting: Hear that?

Exasperated, Zoey told the duty officer, "Open the cell. Release him."

FyrenZhang collected his suit jacket and strutted out triumphantly.

Walking down the hallway, he froze in surprise.

ElizaLeng had come to bail him out!

She'd just finished signing the paperwork and turned to see him, smiling faintly. "Everything alright?"

"Why are you here?"

"Can't I be?"

Zoey flushed angrily, slamming the documents on the reception counter. "Sign and leave."

FyrenZhang signed.

Zoey glared at ElizaLeng. "ElizaLeng, aren't you sick of him? Why bother bailing him out?"

"Because I want to."

Zoey snorted. "Typical heartless capitalist."

"Watch your words. Even cops must follow the law."

"But you know he's scum."

"I know." ElizaLeng looked unconcerned. "But I don't recall any law stating scum should be shot or jailed. He and Jason were involved in mutual assault. Jason has already signed the settlement, and I've paid the two-thousand-dollar fine. All you need to do is release him immediately."

Zoey was about to lose her temper when she suddenly smiled. "I heard you're getting engaged next month? Congratulations—nothing like rich people's weddings."

ElizaLeng knew she was deliberately trying to provoke her and simply smiled faintly. "Thank you. I heard your family is forcing you on another blind date? This time the guy should at least be normal, right?"

Sparks practically flew between their locked gazes.

It was common knowledge throughout Crystalpeak City how FyrenZhang had harassed ElizaLeng for three long years.

Likewise, the rumors about Zoey being forced into disastrous blind dates with bizarre men were well-known in their circles.

Each woman had found the other's sore spot and pressed without mercy.

FyrenZhang secretly rejoiced.

[Catfights are entertainment gold! Best show ever!]

[But I'd better be careful—these two are more dangerous than tigers. Wouldn't want to get burned.]

[You're enemies now, but just wait until OttoLong adds you both to his harem. You'll be calling each other "sister" soon enough.]

FyrenZhang stood behind them, grinning wickedly to himself.

Suddenly, the hairs on his neck stood up. Looking up, he found both women glaring furiously at him.

FyrenZhang immediately turned and walked away, mumbling, "Gotta go—Mom called me home for dinner."

Inside the car:

ElizaLeng sat facing FyrenZhang, her posture rigid.

FyrenZhang looked like a chastised schoolboy.

[What idiot designed this business car with facing seats? Where am I supposed to look?]

[ElizaLeng's legs are insane in those black stockings. Mesmerizing. I could play with them for a year—no, three years—no, a lifetime!]

[Damn that skirt's in the way. If she'd just hike it up a little, spread her legs a bit more...]

ElizaLeng's face darkened as she coldly stared at FyrenZhang, listening to his mental drooling. Suddenly, she spread her legs wide—FyrenZhang nearly choked.

"See something you like?" ElizaLeng asked stone-faced.

"Just... moderately..."

She returned to her proper seated position. "Explain. How did you know about Jason? What's your intelligence source? Did you plant a mole in my company?"

FyrenZhang's eyes widened as she feigned surprise. "He really has a problem? See, I told you today wasn't a good day to sign, right? Luckily I stepped in just in time, I'm telling you..."

"FyrenZhang, can't you speak one word of truth to me?"

"What I said is the truth."

FyrenZhang kept up the tough talk, completely unaware that every thought in his head—every single word his heart concealed—was being heard clearly by this heroine.

ElizaLeng asked, "Why don't you want to marry me anymore?"

FyrenZhang stammered, "I suddenly think I still like XenaXu..."

"XenaXu isn't even your girlfriend. Stop lying."

FyrenZhang sighed. "The truth is, I don't like you."

"Then what do the past three years count for?"

"Count me as unlucky."

"And what about all your sweet words and pampering?"

"Count yourself unlucky."

"Then why did you help me today? You'd rather go to jail than let me suffer! And did you really want to kiss me back then?"

FyrenZhang looked at ElizaLeng and suddenly laughed. "Big sis, you're really sick. This is personal between Jason and me—it has nothing to do with you."

ElizaLeng stared at FyrenZhang. "FyrenZhang, don't regret saying these words."

"I, FyrenZhang, have never regretted anything in my life."

"I'm warning you—I hold grudges. If you treat me like this today, you'll never get another chance with me."

"Haha, perfect! From now on, we'll just exchange polite greetings when we meet. If I say one extra word to you, I'm your grandson!"

ElizaLeng felt a pang of sadness.

Her nose actually stung, and her eyes grew moist.

"Get lost," she said calmly.

"Get out."