Chapter 18: Is This Body of Yours Still Worth Anything?

As soon as those words left her mouth, everyone became even more convinced that Ruan Ruoshui had lost her mind. Did she truly believe she was coming to the company to play the princess? Expecting everyone to cradle her in their palms? Was she out of her mind?

Ruan Ruoshui had suffered such humiliation, and she had her pride. If Ye Yaoyao didn’t apologize and make amends, she wouldn’t stay here a moment longer. Yet, the excellent benefits at Ye Corporation made her reluctant to leave, but in the end, she still went to HR to complete her resignation.

Afterward, Ruan Ruoshui went straight to her best friend Qin Miao to pour out her grievances. “Miao Miao, isn’t this Ye Yaoyao just going too far? She climbed her way up by trading on her looks, struts around the company so arrogantly—doesn’t she worry that one day people will see her true self and she’ll fall from grace?”

“All I did was speak the truth in the break room last time, and she’s held it against me ever since?”

Ruan Ruoshui felt utterly wronged. Qin Miao patted her back and pulled her into an embrace.

“She’s always been that overbearing. And you, too—those things in the past are behind us, why provoke her?”

Truly, fortune was on her side.

Old Madam Shen was preparing to make her move and wanted Qin Miao to invite Ye Yaoyao out for her. Originally, Qin Miao had hoped to benefit from the situation herself, but it was clear now that Old Madam Shen would never let her have her way.

As for Ruan Ruoshui’s predicament, it turned out to be quite timely for her own plans...

“What do you mean ‘behind us’? You were the one truly in love with Shen Yan. Ye Yaoyao is just a homewrecker who shamelessly clings to him. Now you’re back, and she’s still entangling herself with him.”

The more Ruan Ruoshui thought about it, the more indignant she felt on Qin Miao’s behalf. “I just can’t stand to see a homewrecker enjoying the limelight!”

“Oh, enough about me. What matters now is your situation,” Qin Miao said, dabbing away Ruan Ruoshui’s tears with the air of a caring elder sister. “I’m only worried that my troubles have dragged you into this. Your work has always been recognized—this is Ye Yaoyao deliberately stirring up trouble.”

Ruan Ruoshui agreed; there was nothing wrong with her work. It was all Ye Yaoyao’s fault.

“Ruoshui, I still think Ye Corporation’s benefits are excellent. Why not ask Ye Yaoyao out and apologize? Let bygones be bygones,” Qin Miao suggested cautiously.

“Me, apologize to her? She’s not worthy!” Ruan Ruoshui jumped up, seething at the thought of Ye Yaoyao’s arrogance. Her chest heaved with rage, but her job was important. She slumped her shoulders and sat down.

“Miao Miao, you’re so close with Shen Yan—why don’t you talk to him and help me get a job at Shen Corporation? Their benefits are great too…”

It would be even better if she could work under Shen Yan—staring at such a handsome man every day would be a joy. And if something more happened between them, that would be ideal.

Women understand women best—Qin Miao saw straight through Ruan Ruoshui’s thoughts. To be coveting her man—was she crazy? Did she not know her own place?

“I’ll speak with A-Yan about it, but Ruoshui, we all move in the same circles. If this matter isn’t resolved, it might reflect badly on you even at Shen Corporation.”

A calculating gleam appeared in Ye Yaoyao’s eyes—she wanted to pacify Ruan Ruoshui for now and deal with the rest later.

Sure enough, at the mention of working by Shen Yan’s side, Ruan Ruoshui’s eyes lit up. As long as she could work near him, even apologizing was bearable.

“All right, I’ll go apologize to Ye Yaoyao then.”

“Do it tonight, before she holds a grudge and spreads the word—it could harm your future.”

Though she was still unwilling, Ruan Ruoshui took out her phone and arranged to meet Ye Yaoyao.

...

When Ye Yaoyao received the message, she found it rather odd.

Strange things always had hidden motives.

She sent someone to investigate and quickly learned that Ruan Ruoshui and Qin Miao were close friends.

Friends? That explained everything.

After all, birds of a feather flock together.

Reflecting on it, Ye Yaoyao truly felt that old adage was right: stay away from men, or misfortune will follow.

How much trouble had Shen Yan brought her so far?

After preparing herself, she set out for the meeting place.

When she arrived, Ruan Ruoshui’s eyes held both contempt and triumph.

“President Ye, I was in the wrong today. Please forgive me.”

Ye Yaoyao had barely sat down when Ruan Ruoshui began her apology.

She didn’t reply immediately, instead ordering her favorite drink and leisurely turning her gaze on Ruan Ruoshui.

“Apologizing out of the blue? What do you want?”

“I sincerely realize I was wrong today. Of course, if I could return to work at Ye Corporation, that would be best…”

These words were all coached by Qin Miao—meant to avoid raising Ye Yaoyao’s suspicions.

Ye Yaoyao smiled, clearly seeing the reluctance in Ruan Ruoshui’s eyes.

She tilted her head, glancing upstairs as if inadvertently—Qin Miao was there.

“Returning to Ye Corporation is out of the question,” Ye Yaoyao said, settling back in her seat. “But I accept your apology.”

Ruan Ruoshui finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness Ye Yaoyao didn’t agree—if both Ye Corporation and Shen Corporation fought over her, how would she choose?

“Well… all right then.”

Ye Yaoyao took a sip of her drink. “Then…”

Before she could finish, she slumped forward onto the table.

Ruan Ruoshui was startled. She tried shaking Ye Yaoyao’s shoulder. “President Ye? Wake up…”

The sudden turn of events left Ruan Ruoshui flustered. She glanced upstairs and soon saw Qin Miao approaching.

“Miao Miao, what’s going on with her?”

“Ruoshui, you should head home. I’ll handle the rest.”

“But President Ye…” Ruan Ruoshui was uneasy.

Qin Miao grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear, “Ruoshui, do you really want to see her continue lording it over everyone? Just pretend you saw nothing tonight and go home.”

“All… all right.”

Before leaving, Ruan Ruoshui clutched Qin Miao’s hand. “Miao Miao, I trust you.”

Qin Miao watched as Ruan Ruoshui departed.

Ye Yaoyao, lying on the table, listened to their conversation, feeling a twinge of pity for Ruan Ruoshui—she was being used without even realizing it.

Next, Ye Yaoyao felt herself being lifted up and carried toward the exit.

She was dumped in the back seat of a car. Peeking through half-closed eyes, she guessed the road led toward an abandoned factory in the suburbs.

Why did people always choose such places for their dirty deeds?

Keeping her eyes shut, she allowed her hands to be tied. After her captors left, she drew a small knife and sliced through the rope.

“Where are your men?” Qin Miao’s voice.

“They’re outside—just a bunch of vagrants from the street, and it’s been ages since they’ve seen a woman.”

“All right, wake her up.”

A bucket of water was thrown over Ye Yaoyao. She played along, slowly opening her eyes.

“Qin Miao? What are you doing here?”

Her composure irked Qin Miao, but thinking of what was about to happen, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

“Obviously, I came to see you make a fool of yourself,” Qin Miao said, looking down at her from above. “If you’re ravaged by a group of men, do you really think your body will be worth anything after that?”