Wei Zheng quickly left.
When only she and Lisa were left in the room, Krystal couldn't help but feel a little restless.
She waited for a while.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, she saw that Lisa was still staring at the computer screen. He didn't even look at her as if he hadn't noticed her presence. She couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Lisa."
She called him gently and aggrievedly. "Are you very busy? So busy that you don't even have time to talk to me? Why are you ignoring me? What did I do wrong to make you angry?"
Lisa seemed to have just found out that there was someone else in the office.
He finally looked up at her.
His eyes were cold and distant.
Krystal was shocked, but she quickly calmed down and said softly, "Lisa, are you very tired now? I made soup for you, have some? I spent four hours making this soup, it's delicious."
With that, she opened the thermos on the coffee table and poured half a bowl of soup.
She was about to walk towards Lisa when she heard him say coldly, "I only drink my wife's soup. You should keep this soup for yourself."
Krystal stopped in her tracks.
Her expression stiffened.
Lisa glanced at her and then continued with his work. "Also, given our relationship, you're not suitable for this. Krystal, I've told you many times that I'm married.
"Even if we used to have a good relationship, we should keep a distance now. I don't want my wife to be jealous and misunderstand. So, don't do such things again."
Krystal clenched her fists.
"Can't friends show you some concern?" She bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes. "You're married, and you don't even want friends anymore? I used to..."
"I've said it before, it's all in the past now. I wasn't married in the past, so you could do whatever you wanted. But now that I'm married, I care about her too. I don't want her to misunderstand our relationship, and I don't want her to be unhappy because of what happened between us."
"So, are her feelings more important than anything else?" Krystal couldn't help but growl as her tears fell uncontrollably onto her face. "Lisa, we've known each other for so many years. How long have you known her? We were clearly the most important people in each other's hearts, but now it's her. Do you really like her, love her? Do you really know whether your feelings for her are based on her specialty towards you?
"If she wasn't so special, do you think you'd still like her?
"I know that you married her because she could cure you of your illness. Otherwise, how could you have married a woman so quickly? But, this isn't true..."
"Are you done?"
Lisa looked up at her coldly.
Krystal was stunned. She felt a chill run down her spine.
"Lisa, I..."
"So, this is the reason you set her up behind her back?" Lisa's voice got colder.
Krystal widened her eyes in shock and panic. Her hand trembled, and she almost dropped the bowl.
"Lisa, w-what are you talking about?" She looked away guiltily, not daring to meet his eyes.
Impossible.
How did he know?
He couldn't know.
He wasn't talking about that. Was he testing her?
Krystal panicked for a few seconds and forced herself to calm down.
Lisa sneered. "You know very well what I'm talking about. Do you know why I'm willing to see you today? Krystal, even if you don't like her, I won't force you to. This is your freedom. But since you're tempted by her, I can't just sit back and do nothing."
"Lisa, I-I didn't do anything."
Krystal wasn't sure if Lisa was testing her or if he really found something.
She hid the panic in her eyes and pretended to be confused. "Lisa, what are you talking about? I don't understand. I have no feud with Jennie. I admit that I don't like her, but I don't hate her.
"What reason do I have to touch her?
"Are you suspecting me because of her scandal? Do you think I got someone to do it? Lisa, you're being unfair to me."
"Unfair to you?"
Lisa seemed to have heard a joke. He narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "You think I've wronged you? Do you think I'll suspect you just because I haven't checked anything?
"You got the company to spread rumors about her and frame her as a third party. You know that she's an artiste and that public opinion affects her a lot, but you still did this.
"Krystal, you're trying to ruin her.
"You've gone overboard with my wife. Do you think I won't do anything about it? Do you think I'd meet you if I didn't have concrete evidence?"
Krystal's expression cracked.
She panicked. "Lisa, I-I didn't do it."
"The IP address that we found is from the Jung family. Who else could it be besides you?" Lisa's gaze was extremely cold. "I warned you previously not to have any ill intentions towards her. Otherwise, no matter who you are, I won't be nice to you.
"It seems like you didn't take my warning seriously. Instead, you're getting worse.
"Do you really think I won't do anything to you?"
Krystal's expression changed. She couldn't help but feel a sense of fear as she looked into his cold eyes.
It was precisely because she'd known Lisa for so many years.
Hence, she knew what he was capable of.
He was a ruthless person who treated people he didn't care about with extreme coldness and heartlessness.
She was sure that he wouldn't do anything to her because of their years of friendship.
Even though he was married to another woman, she still felt that she had a place in his heart.
It was precisely because she was sure that she was special to him that she dared to lay her hands on Jennie.
Before she did anything, she expected the worst.
She was sure that even if Lisa knew the truth, he wouldn't really do anything to her.
They had been friends for over 20 years.
And the relationship between the Jung and Manoban families.
No matter what, the consequences wouldn't be too serious.
At most, he'd just be angry for a while.
He couldn't possibly cut all ties with her just because of this.
But now, she wasn't so sure.
She bit her lip and said in a trembling voice, "Lisa, I-I didn't do it on purpose. I was just too... too jealous of her. I was just blinded by jealousy, so I did something irrational.
"I didn't really want to destroy her.
"I just don't like her. I don't want her to live so smoothly.
"Why can't I be with you even after waiting for you for over 20 years? She just appeared in your life and doesn't know you as well as I do. She can be your wife for the rest of your life and be by your side forever. She can even make you treat her so well and pamper her?
"Why?!"
Krystal couldn't control the grievance and hatred in her heart and let out a low growl. "Just because she can cure you? Just because of her so-called uniqueness? Lisa, do you really like her?"
"If she wasn't so special to you, would you still marry her? You wouldn't.
"You've never had any emotional experience, so you treat this as love. You think you like her, so you treat her well, protect her, and pamper her. But you don't really like her.
"I just can't stand how easily she can get your love. What right does she have!
"If she hadn't been able to treat your illness, you wouldn't have had any interaction with her in this lifetime. But I'm different. We've known each other and have been by each other's side since we were young. Everyone around us thinks that we should be together.
"If it wasn't for Jennie's sudden appearance, your wife would have been me. Lisa, I can't accept this. I've liked you for so many years, and now I have to give you to someone else. I really can't accept this."
At the end of her speech, Krystal was already sobbing.
She covered her face and cried. "Do you know, I've liked you for so many years. I've liked you since the first time I saw you. I've never had anyone else in my heart besides you.
"They all told me to give up on you. They said that you're already married, and I shouldn't pester you anymore. I tried to, but I really can't."
She really liked him.
He was her entire world.
Without him, her world would crumble.
Then, what was the point of her life?
All she wanted was to marry him and become his wife.
But he married another woman.
What about her?
What should she do?
Everyone was trying to persuade her to let go, but how could she let go of 20 years of feelings?
He was digging her heart out.
Would a person survive without a heart?
Hence, unless she died, she would never be able to let go of him.
Lisa listened to her expressionlessly.
It was as if what he had just listened had nothing to do with him.
Krystal looked at his cold expression and felt a stab in her heart. She laughed out loud. "I thought that after knowing you for so many years, you'd treat me differently from others. No matter what, I still have a place in your heart.
"Even if you don't love me, I'm special to you.
"It seems like I was wrong."
Tears rolled down her cheeks and stained her makeup.
She placed great importance on her image, but at this moment, she let her makeup go. "To you, I'm not even considered a good friend, right?"
He'd never been so cold to his friends.
But he was so cold to her.
Just because she touched Jennie?
Krystal couldn't help but sneer. "Jennie is so lucky. She doesn't have to put any effort to win your heart. And my 20 years of companionship and waiting are like a joke. No, it should be a sad and funny joke."
She'd already said what she shouldn't. She had nothing to fear now. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "That's right, I was the one who planned it. I hired some people to defame her.
"Lisa, are you going to break up with me over this?
"Or do you want to stand up for Jennie and do something to me?"
Lisa looked at her expressionlessly. "After what you've done to my wife, we can't be friends anymore. I'll show mercy to my friends, but not to strangers.
"Leave, this is the last time.
"Krystal, we're strangers from now on. If you do anything to hurt her again, I'll return it to you a hundred times over. This is the last time I'm warning you. I advise you not to drag the entire Jung family into this."
Krystal looked up at him in disbelief. "You want to break up with me? Just because I let someone defame Jennie once, you want to break up with me? Isn't she fine now? Lisa, do you really have to be so heartless?
"What did you mean by that? What are you going to do to my family?"
Lisa looked at her coldly. "Don't force me to be truly heartless to you. I have nothing more to say to you, you can leave now.
"Don't look for me anymore. I won't see you again."
With that, he walked back to his desk and dialed the internal line on the desk. "Wei Zheng, send Miss Jung out."
Krystal stood rooted to the ground.
She was still in disbelief.
She felt as if her heart was being ripped apart. The pain was so intense that her face turned pale.
He really wanted to cut ties with her because of that woman.
He even said that he wanted to deal with the Jung family.
All of a sudden, she felt that this man was extremely foreign to her.
He wasn't the Lisa she'd known for over 20 years.
The Lisa she knew wouldn't be so heartless.
Even if he wasn't especially good to her, he'd never said such cold and heartless words to her.
Just because of Jennie.
He could be so heartless and cruel to her.
"Lisa, are you willing to give up anyone for Jennie?" Krystal couldn't help but shout. "You treat her so well. Have you ever thought that you're nothing to her?
"You like her, but does she like you? She has a fiancé with 10 years of feelings for her. That's the person she likes and cares about. No matter how good you are to her, what's the point? Can you compare to their 10 years of relationship?
"She just broke up with her fiancé and immediately got married to you. Have you never thought that she's only with you to treat her injuries? I did get the Internet Water Army to defame her previously, but I didn't get her fiancé to reconcile with her on the streets.
"Maybe she rejected him on the surface, but her heart was moved. When her fiancé begs her a few more times, she might agree."
Seeing that Lisa's expression was getting darker, Krystal felt a surge of joy.
The thrill of revenge.
He hurt her so much.
She wasn't going to let him off easy.
She wanted him to have a taste of jealousy.
She wanted him to experience what it felt like to lose someone he cared about.
Even if he couldn't fully understand her pain, even if he could only experience a tenth of it, it was enough.
"If a woman has loved a man deeply before, it's very difficult for her to fall for another man. Just like me, hahaha. All these years, other men tried to get on my good side. But the place in my heart has already been filled up, how can I still hold others?
"Lisa, do you really think that Jennie can completely let go of her ex? Let me tell you, it's impossible.
"Do you care a lot about her, and you're afraid of losing her? But do you know that the more you love someone, the further away that person will be from you?"
Lisa pursed his lips and asked, "Are you done?"
"Hahaha, you seem angry? Lisa, so you're afraid too. Did you actually think about what I said just now? Is that why you're so afraid?
"You're worried that Jennie will get back together with her ex-fiancé, right?"
Seeing the anger and forbearance on the man's face, Krystal was elated.
She could feel that Lisa was afraid.
She felt that it was ridiculous and pathetic.
They'd known each other for so many years, but she'd never seen him afraid of anything.
But now, he was afraid.
Hahaha, just because she said that Jennie would get back together with Kai and leave him, this fearless man was actually afraid.
What a joke.
She was just a woman.
She really charmed him.
She thought that he was different from other men.
It turned out that he was bewitched by beauty.
He was no different from any other man.
Crack.
At this moment, Wei Zheng entered.
The moment he entered the office, he felt that the atmosphere wasn't right. He looked at Krystal, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying, and then at his boss's dark expression. He cautiously called out, "Chairman Manoban."
Lisa turned around and said coldly, "Bring her out."
"Yes."
Wei Zheng could feel Lisa's anger and didn't dare to delay. He immediately turned to Krystal and said, "Miss Jung, please."
Krystal wiped her tears and looked up at Lisa with a smile. "Alright, I'll leave. I'll leave right away. I know that you only have Jennie in your heart now. I'll only be an eyesore to you if I stay here. Lisa, although you've given up on me, your place in my heart will never change.
"I believe that time will prove everything. You'll know who's the one who's true to you."
She then turned around and left the office.
Wei Zheng stood rooted to the ground for two seconds before following her.
Not long after they left.
The secretaries outside heard the sound of something falling on the floor.
They looked at each other in fear.
What did Miss Jung and Chairman Manoban talk about in the office?
Why were Miss Jung's eyes swollen when she walked out? She was obviously crying.
Did she know that Chairman Manoban had a girlfriend?
So she was sad?
...
When Jennie arrived at the hot pot restaurant, she saw Rosé sitting alone at a table. She was eating a piece of tripes and holding a bottle of beer.
She was boiling her tripes as she drank.
It seemed like she was enjoying her meal alone.
Jennie stood at the door for a few seconds and then quickly walked towards her.
"Baby, you're here so soon? Boss, get me another bowl and chopsticks." Rosé was so happy to see Jennie that her eyes narrowed.
She reached out and patted the seat beside her. "Baby, come sit here, let's sit next to each other. Sigh, you've only been gone for a few days, why do I miss you so much? It feels like it's been a few years."
There was a long stool in the store.
Jennie walked over and sat on a stool with her.
Rosé put down her chopsticks and hugged her tightly.
"Baby, do you know that I really missed you and wanted to see you today, but you actually returned to Yuncheng City? Hahaha, can you hear what I'm thinking?"
Jennie hugged her too and smiled. "Then, we must be telepathic. I really wanted to see you today, so I came back. Moreover, how could I miss out on hot pot?"
Rosé didn't say anything else and just hugged her tightly. After a few seconds, she slowly let go.
The boss brought an empty bowl over.
Jennie prepared the ingredients according to her usual preferences. Rosé placed the freshly-burned tripes in her bowl and smiled. "You came to look for me right after you arrived in Yuncheng City. Would your husband have any objections?
"Although I do want to see you, I'll feel guilty if this makes you unhappy."
This store's tripes were the best.
Jennie always ordered two servings each time she came.
Rosé knew that this was her favorite, so she scooped it into her bowl.
The tripes were just right, and Jennie ate it in one bite.
After she was done eating, she picked up a slice and placed it in the pot. Seeing that Rosé picked up the beer bottle again, she frowned and stopped her. "Rosé, didn't you say you drank too much last night? Why are you drinking again now?"
"Stop drinking."
"Last night was last night." Rosé gently pushed her hand away and took a big gulp. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's just a little beer. Isn't it boring to eat hot pot and not drink at all?"
"Do you want some?"
Jennie's alcohol tolerance was terrible.
She could pour two glasses of beer.
Hence, she usually didn't drink.
But today...
She thought for a while and nodded. "Alright, I'll drink with you."
"Are you sure?" Rosé raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you afraid of getting drunk?"
"I'm with you, what's there to be afraid of." Jennie smiled and took out an empty glass. "Pour me a glass. I'll drink with you. One glass... I'm fine with it."
"Alright."
Rosé poured her more than half a glass of beer and clinked glasses with her. "It doesn't matter if you're drunk. I'll call Prince Charming and get him to pick you up. You can have a good time together."
Jennie was speechless.
She glared at Rosé. "You're so cheeky."
The two chatted as they ate.
Jennie talked about her life in City F, and Rosé talked about her job search.
Although Rosé majored in acting, she didn't intend to enter the industry in the future.
Her dream was the same as Taehyung. She wanted to be a famous director in the future, to film the shows she liked and groom the people she wanted.
She and Jennie had agreed that Jennie would be the female lead when she became a famous director.
The two of them didn't mention that man again.
When Jennie mentioned that Taehyung had given her the female lead role, Rosé was shocked and happy. "Really? In that case, Baby, you're the female lead now?"
"Mm."
Jennie was still very happy about this. She couldn't help but take a sip of her beer. "Anyway, I'm still under a lot of pressure. But I'll do my best on this show. I can't let Brother Taehyung and Sister Xie down.
"Especially Brother Taehyung. It's rather risky for him to use me as the female lead. No matter what, I can't ruin his reputation."
"Eh?"
Rosé rolled her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Jennie blinked.
"You and Brother Taehyung seem to have a pretty good relationship." Rosé smiled. "You're already calling him that. How is it, am I right? Brother Taehyung is a pretty nice person and easy to get along with.
"Moreover, he picked you as the female lead because he thinks you're suitable. So, you have to have more confidence in yourself. Brother Taehyung is very good at judging people. If he thinks you're suitable, you're definitely suitable.
"In the past, many inexperienced newbies got important roles and became popular because of him. Anyway, Baby, I think you're going to be popular very soon. Sigh, I really didn't expect you to finish what we agreed on so quickly.
"Anyway, you have to remember our agreement. No matter how popular you are in the future, you still owe me the female lead role. You can't ignore me just because you're a big star in the future."
"Of course not."
Jennie patted her chest. "We're best friends for life. If you need anything in the future, you can do as many shows as you want, much less one."
"Sisters are the best."
The smile on her face faded as Rosé sighed and put down her chopsticks.
She finished the rest of the beer in one gulp.
"Baby, let me ask you something."
"Mm, go ahead."
Rosé rubbed her temple and kept quiet for a while before saying, "If I tell you that I accepted the check, would you think that... I'm a money-grubber?
"If I had some backbone, shouldn't I tear the cheque apart in front of him and tell him not to trample on my dignity? Actually, I thought of doing that, but later on, I felt that I had the right to accept it.
"If he dares to give it to me, why wouldn't I dare to accept it? Just to show that I'm very proud and have a lot of self-esteem, I'm going to push the 50 million away? Wouldn't I be a fool?
"In any case, we probably won't meet again in the future. Since he feels guilty towards me and is willing to make it up to me, I'll accept that sum of money. To be honest, I still have a lot of money to spend in the future. With that 50 million, I can solve many problems.
"Moreover, I'm trying to get investors for a script, and I'm short of money. His money came just in time."
Jennie thought for a while. "I think if it was me..."
"Mm, what would you do?" Rosé looked at her steadily.
Jennie thought for a while and said honestly, "I'd accept the money too."
Things like tearing the check apart only existed in the novels of domineering presidents.
Who could resist the temptation of 50 million?
And it was delivered voluntarily.
Only a fool would reject such a huge sum of money for their dignity.
But the man who had a one-night stand with Rosé last night must be someone important.
Not many people could give 50 million in one go.
A man would be willing to pay tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of yuan for a love affair.
But 50 million...
It was indeed a huge sum.
Although it wasn't obvious just from the money.
But since that man was willing to give Rosé so much money, he probably liked her a little.
Otherwise, he was very satisfied with her.
But he didn't even show his face. He got his assistant to bring the money over because he didn't want her to know his identity.
Or rather, Rosé would know who he was the moment she saw him.
Hence, Jennie guessed that she might know that man too.
He might be a well-known figure.
"You really think so?" Rosé looked a little better now.
"Mm." Jennie nodded. "50 million, not 5,000. I don't think anyone can reject this temptation. Anyway, I can't reject it. As you said, he gave it willingly. Why shouldn't you take it?"
"Mm, I think so too."
Rosé smiled again. "That's why I accepted it without hesitation. Hahaha, do you know the expression on Assistant Xu's face? He probably thought I'd be angry and reject him. In the end, I happily accepted the money.
"Anyway, I saw his face darken."
Jennie couldn't help but laugh as she imagined it.
"Did Assistant Xu read too many novels? Otherwise, why would he think that you would reject the money?"
"Who knows." Rosé shrugged. "Anyway, he didn't look too good after I accepted the money. But I don't care how he sees me. We won't have any interactions in the future, anyway."
"..."
"I've checked, the check is real." Rosé rubbed her chin and sighed. "That man is so rich and generous to women. Do you think he's so generous to every woman he's slept with?"
"Fifty million for every woman he sleeps with. Do you think he'll go bankrupt soon?"
Jennie was speechless.
"Didn't you say that it was his first time?"
Jennie hadn't known Rosé for long.
But they knew each other best.
Hence, she could tell that although Rosé was teasing her, she was still very concerned about what happened last night.
Although she was usually carefree and didn't seem to care about anything.
But which girl wouldn't mind her first time?
She didn't seem to care about the man last night at all.
But she was actually curious.
She wanted to know he was.
Just like how Jennie wanted to know who that man was.
It felt terrible to be slept with without knowing who the other party was.
"I guessed it too, who knows if it was." Rosé snorted. "But if it wasn't his first time, his skills are terrible. A man with experience wouldn't be so bad.
"Do you know, that beast tormented me for the whole night. Besides the pain, I didn't feel anything else."
Rosé said with a look of disdain, "And I seemed to have said that his skills were terrible. In the end, that beast actually tormented me even more. His skills were obviously terrible, but he still had the face to ask if I felt comfortable."
Jennie was speechless.
Although she was experienced in this area.
But hearing Rosé say it so bluntly, she couldn't help but blush.
"Baby, let me ask you something." Rosé suddenly leaned towards her and lowered her voice. "When you're with Prince Charming... does it always hurt?"
"Huh?"
Why was she suddenly asking about her?
Jennie blushed and bit her lip. "This..."
She wasn't used to sharing this with her best friend.
"Tell me. I want to know if my experience last night was normal, or if that man was too lousy."
"Uh, this, it hurts at first, but later..."
"Later?" Rosé asked curiously.
Jennie bit her lip and whispered, "It won't hurt much after that."
"Is that so?" Rosé frowned. "But why do I always feel pain? It seems like that man's skills are really terrible. No wonder he doesn't dare to come and see me. I guess he feels too ashamed."
"Rosé, did you... buy the morning-after pill?" Jennie suddenly recalled something important.
"What pill?" Rosé was stunned.
Jennie's expression turned serious. "Morning-after pills. Did you... take contraceptive measures last night?"
Rosé widened her eyes and looked up at her.
"I don't think he... took any contraceptive measures."
"Have you taken the contraceptive?"
"... No."
Jennie immediately got the boss to settle the bill and dragged Rosé out of the hot pot restaurant. "Let's go get the morning-after pill now."
...
At a private residence.
The man standing by the window was wrapped in a black bathrobe. He was tall and slender, and his posture was relaxed. Just his back view alone was enough to attract people's attention.
Outside the window was a huge green lawn.
Two French parasol trees blocked most of the sunlight.
He was holding a cup of coffee. The freshly brewed coffee emitted white steam on his glasses, blurring his vision.
He took off his glasses and handed them to the housemaid.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
He slowly stopped when he got closer to him.
"Minister." A respectful voice came from behind him.
Manoban Jisoo turned around slowly and looked at the person in front of him. "How did it go?"
Assistant Xu pouted and looked a little speechless. "According to the minister's instructions, I gave her the check."
"Mm." Jisoo nodded. He hesitated for a few seconds before asking, "How... is she? Did she say anything? Is she alright?"
Assistant Xu couldn't help but snort when she recalled how the woman had taken the check so quickly.
Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"Minister, do you know that woman..." Assistant Xu frowned. "I thought she wouldn't accept the check so easily. I didn't expect her to accept it so quickly.
"I've never seen a woman who loves money so much.
"You don't know it, but when I handed her the check at first, she didn't accept it. Then, I told her that it was a 50 million check, and she immediately took it away. Her hand was so quick, it was as if she was afraid that I'd regret it.
"I've seen some women who love money. But this is the first time I've seen a woman who loves money so openly.
"You're worried that she'll be sad. You're overthinking it. I think she's in a good mood after receiving the 50 million.
"She must be so happy that she got rich overnight by just sleeping with you." Assistant Xu's eyes were filled with disdain as he spoke. "I think she might have pretended to be drunk last night and got drugged to get close to you.
"What a coincidence. You were drugged and needed a woman, and she appeared?
"Minister, I think we should find out more about that woman. Maybe this drug incident has something to do with her." Assistant Xu was furious at the thought of that woman's materialistic mindset.
Although the money was prepared for her by the Minister.
No matter how much she wanted it, she should at least put on an act.
Moreover, he felt that the minister had given too much.
She was just an ordinary woman, not worth 50 million.
If it wasn't for the urgent situation, he could've picked a woman with good qualities.
He didn't even need to spend those 50 million.
Although this sum of money was nothing to the Minister, was that woman worth it?!
Hmph, 500,000 was too much.