It was a little past eleven in the morning. The sun blazed high, the sky a flawless blue.
In front of the towering Zhicheng Building, Chen Jin stood tall in a sharp suit, radiating confidence. Beside him was his long-time friend and business partner, Xiang Yang—equally well-dressed and imposing. The two had just finished meeting several major clients and were heading out to lunch to continue discussions when a furious voice cut through the air:
"Chen Jin, you bastard!"
Everyone froze and turned toward the source. Even Chen Jin himself was stunned. What the fuck? No one had ever dared curse him in his face—let alone in public.
Then a blur of blue came storming toward them like a whirlwind. It took everyone a moment to realize it was a young woman—blue shirt, jeans, face flushed with anger. Shocked silence rippled through the crowd before the whispering started. After all, any man of status was bound to have a few messy entanglements, wasn't he?
Xiang Yang, who'd grown up with Chen Jin, knew his friend's temperament well. Though he doubted it, a small part of him couldn't help wondering—had his oh-so-righteous buddy, who always claimed to steer clear of "those kinds of affairs," finally gotten himself into trouble? The girl looked young, fresh-faced, probably a college student. What the hell had he done to make her this mad? Two-timed her? Got her pregnant and disappeared?
Chen Jin recognized her instantly. Lin Wan.
Her outfit and hairstyle were different from the last time they met, her long hair now tied back in a ponytail—but that face, that fire in her eyes, he would never forget. He had known she'd come for him eventually. He just didn't expect it to be like this.
What he did overlook, however, was her style of action. Before he could react, Lin Wan was already right in front of him—and with a sharp crack that echoed through the air, her palm met his cheek. The blow snapped everyone out of their daze, including Chen Jin himself.
Her expression, furious yet oddly satisfied, carried a trace of grim pride. So those practice slaps weren't for nothing, she thought fleetingly. But she'd hit him too hard—her body wobbled, losing balance. As she tried to step back, Chen Jin's hand shot out and caught her.
"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Chen Jin growled, face darkening with rage. His blood boiled. Being slapped by a woman in broad daylight was one thing—but in front of friends, clients, and right outside his own company? It was unthinkable. God knows which employee might've seen it. By the end of the day, the whole building would be whispering about how their invincible boss got smacked by a girl.
And the worst part? The moment he saw her storming toward him, a spark of something—something disturbingly close to excitement—had flared up in his chest. That split-second of hesitation had cost him his pride.
"Let go of me, you asshole! You filthy, rotten bastard!" Lin Wan screamed, kicking and punching wildly as she struggled in his grip, her anger raw and unrestrained. The scene only confirmed the spectators' assumptions.
Chen Jin's expression turned even darker. She might be slim, but with those long arms and legs flailing, she was a handful. Oddly enough, though, he didn't knock her out like he did the first time they met. Instead, he spent a few strained seconds subduing her before finally scooping her up—hardly gracefully—and carrying her toward the parking lot.
"Apologies," he said curtly to the onlookers, his tone ice-cold. "Personal matter. I'll be right back."
Xiang Yang, who had been watching with barely concealed amusement, stepped in with a smooth smile. "Why don't we head to the restaurant first? President Chen will join us shortly."
Whether Chen Jin would actually make it, he had no idea—but if it weren't for their clients being present, Xiang Yang would've loved to stay and watch the show.
Chen Jin's driver, Old Li, had been waiting by the curb. He'd seen the entire scene unfold—every slap, every curse—and even for a man who'd seen it all, he was left speechless.
He watched as his boss marched over, still gripping the struggling woman, expression thunderous. Without a word, Chen Jin yanked open the back door and shoved her inside. Li winced at the dull thud as her head hit the car frame, followed by her pained gasp. Chen Jin didn't even flinch. He walked around, slid into the driver's seat himself, started the engine, and roared off, leaving only a trail of exhaust behind.
Old Li blinked. What the hell just happened?
He waited for ten minutes, saw no sign of the car returning, and finally pocketed his phone with a sigh. Haven't seen the boss this pissed in years, he thought as he wandered off to get lunch. That girl must've really pushed his buttons.
Lin Wan, meanwhile, was suffering.
First, she'd been overpowered like a rag doll, then shoved into the car without a chance to react. Before she could even sit upright, the vehicle shot forward, nearly throwing her off the seat. She clutched the backrest desperately, teeth clenched, to keep from being tossed around like a rag.
If her stomach hadn't been empty, she would've thrown up all over the leather interior. Fucking lunatic, she thought furiously, though what came out of her mouth were frantic shouts and screams.
Suddenly, the car lurched to a stop. The violent break sent her crashing into the front seat. Pain exploded in her forehead as she groaned, half-dizzy.
When she finally managed to sit up, she realized they were no longer in the bustling business district. The car was parked on a deserted street that looked vaguely familiar. Gritting her teeth, she glared at the man in front.
"Are you out of your fucking mind? If you want to die, fine—but don't drag me down with you!"
Chen Jin, however, was eerily calm, as though he hadn't just driven like a maniac through the city. Through the rearview mirror, he glanced at the disheveled woman—hair a mess, eyes blazing—and ignored her insults.
"I thought you'd had enough of living," he said coldly. "Keep testing my patience, and I'll gladly help you end it."
"You're insane! You're a fucking psychopath!"
"So what?" he sneered, turning slightly toward her. "You came all the way here just to slap me and yell in my face? Congratulations. You've done it. Now get out—before I really lose my temper."
You call this not losing your temper? Lin Wan's heart was still pounding from the reckless ride. She wanted to yell, but then she remembered why she had come in the first place. Her anger reignited.
"You despicable bastard!" she shouted. "How could you threaten Uncle and Auntie with such filthy tricks, forcing them to back off?"
Ah. So that's what this is about. Chen Jin chuckled under his breath, utterly unimpressed.
"If they didn't have leverage against them," he said coolly, "how could I possibly use it?"
"That's not the same thing!" Lin Wan shot back, her voice fierce with outrage.
Chen Jin didn't even glance at her. He reached for a pack of cigarettes, tapped one out, and held it loosely between his fingers, though he didn't light it.
"Lin Wan," he said slowly, his tone maddeningly calm, "You're too naïve. I'll admit my methods aren't noble—but that's the world we live in. If you say I'm wrong, then they're wrong too. If I'm guilty, then everyone's guilty—each in their own way."
Her chest tightened with fury. Is everyone guilty? What kind of twisted logic was that?
"You're not God," she spat, trembling with anger. "Don't pretend everyone's as rotten as you. You're just making excuses for your lack of humanity!"