The pushover offended a top-tier boss

Lin Zhi's new company is operating smoothly, and business expansion is going much more smoothly than expected. Several major projects have been launched one after another, the team has received bonuses and is full of energy. She has also begun to prepare for a new round of business expansion, keeping her extremely busy every day.

Seeing that Lin Zhi always ignored him, Chen Zheng began to change his approach.

He started going through her company information and looking at her financing needs. After checking around, he found that the project she was working on was highly aligned with the business direction of a subsidiary of PPTV.

That's great! If I ask my older brother for support, she'll surely pay more attention to him, right?

She is young, considerate, and can contribute to her career. How can her useless boyfriend compare to her?

His rise to power is imminent.

When Chen Yu heard that his younger brother was in a relationship, he was both happy and worried. He was happy that the simple-minded boy had finally come to his senses, but he was worried that his simple mind might lead to him being cheated out of both money and feelings.

Chen Zheng patted his chest and assured him, "Brother, she's really great. You'll definitely like her when you meet her."

"I've been following them for a long time. They own their own company, they're really amazing. Look at their profile."

Chen Yu didn't look at them; they were all packaged. He thought that since his younger brother was so interested, he might as well see for himself what kind of person the other party was.

Family background doesn't matter, as long as you have good character.

When he stopped the car downstairs at that office building, he looked at the address and his heart skipped a beat for no reason.

It can't be that much of a coincidence, can it?

Chen Zheng pulled him upstairs, and as he pushed open the door, he cheerfully called out, "Sister, I brought my brother! He's really interested in your project, you should tell him all about it!"

Chen Yu stood at the door, his gaze falling on the face of the person behind the desk, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Lin Zhi's pen froze in mid-air, her mind blank for a moment. She felt as if God was deliberately playing a trick on her.

The three people stood in the small office in an extremely absurd manner, and none of them spoke.

Even if Chen Zheng was stupid, he could see through the clues at this moment.

The way his brother looked at Lin Zhi—that restrained gaze, the way he seemed to be suppressing something—was all too obvious.

He remembered that Secretary Wang had casually mentioned that President Chen seemed to have someone he liked, but he hadn't seen her since, so he didn't think much of it.

It was her.

-

Chen Zheng didn't know how to face Chen Yu, let alone what to choose.

After a long silence, he spoke softly:

"Brother, I really like Lin Zhi..."

"Can't you just give her to me?"

Chen Yu was silent for a few seconds: "Chen Zheng, from childhood to adulthood, I've given you whatever you wanted, but not her."

"I want to marry her."

When those words were spoken, Chen Zheng's heart skipped a beat.

My brother has been single all these years and hates other people getting close to him. Now, he says he wants to marry Lin Zhi...

He stood there for a long time without saying a word, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, before he laughed heartlessly.

"I was just kidding, bro, you actually took it seriously, haha!"

He was ten years younger than Chen Yu. His mother left after giving birth to him, and his father immediately found a new lover. It was Chen Yu, his older brother, who raised him.

As the eldest brother, he was like a father to his younger brother. He endured hardship and struggled to seize power, while also disciplining his troublesome younger brother. His brother was rebellious, skipped classes, and got into fights. It was Chen Yu who threw him into the army and painstakingly transferred him to Zhou Huaijin's side, allowing him to make merits and be transferred back to Beijing, paving the way for him step by step.

All his peace and security came from his brother carrying the burden on his shoulders.

"Brother, she... still has feelings for you. Otherwise, why would she ignore me?"

Chen Zheng gave a nonchalant laugh.

"You know me well, I only have a short attention span for everything."

"I only dated her because she's pretty... You should hurry up and win her over, stop dawdling."

He turned and left without waiting for Chen Yu's reply.

His original thought was, so what if she has a boyfriend? Everyone can pursue her based on their own abilities, and he'll definitely be able to win her back.

But those belong to his brother; he can't take them.

He recalled his rebellious phase, skipping classes and getting into fights, which led to his expulsion from school. His brother dragged him out of an internet cafe and slapped him on the back of the head, his hand shaking for a long time. He remembered how he almost got into a fight in the army and was punished. His brother went to great lengths to transfer him to Zhou Huaijin's side, hoping to earn merit, be transferred back to Beijing, and get him on the right path.

While others were still being pampered in their parents' arms, his brother was locked in the basement and beaten by his father, who told him to "cover his ears and not listen." He knew better than anyone how lonely his brother had been all these years.

Lin Zhi is very important to him; he can't take her away from him.

He didn't particularly like that woman, it was nothing.

After that incident, Lin Zhi noticed that Chen Zheng stopped harassing her. He stopped sending those nonsensical messages and stopped showing up at her company's building every few days with snacks.

He brazenly demanded money from her: "You threw up all over me that day, you have to pay me back for your clothes."

She sent another message, her tone sarcastic: "Hmph, who would like a vixen like you? You almost took my innocence the other day."

Looking at the message, Lin Zhi suddenly realized that nothing had happened between them that night.

That's fine too, she hates getting entangled in complicated situations the most.

She told herself not to overthink it and that making money was the most important thing.

-

Chen Yu's father passed away.

The news reported that it was an acute myocardial infarction. The funeral hall was set up in the ancestral hall of the old house. Chen Yu and Chen Zheng, dressed in black, stood on either side with indifferent expressions, revealing no emotion.

However, after the old man passed away, another shocking piece of gossip emerged online.

The usually affectionate old man had an illegitimate son, only one year younger than his youngest son. Because the old man passed away suddenly without leaving a will, according to the law, the inheritance should go to the brothers Chen Yu and Chen Zheng. Chen Yang naturally refused and started a lawsuit.

Ironically, Chen's father had already been burned to ashes, so Chen Yang couldn't get a DNA test to prove he was his son. In the end, he didn't get a single penny. This provided plenty of juicy gossip for netizens, who were delighted.

Lin Zhi went to work, met with clients, and attended meetings as usual; everything was running smoothly on its own track.

Until a few days later.

After getting off work, she had just entered the underground parking garage when someone suddenly covered her mouth from behind and dragged her into a car.

She struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was too great, and she was soon blindfolded.

When she was pulled down again, she was locked in an empty room.

Chen Yang stood in front of her, raised his hand, and slapped her hard across the face: "You little bitch, weren't you so arrogant? You still ended up in my hands, didn't you?"

Lin Zhi's face stung, but she remained calm and chuckled, "Isn't this Dad's favorite son? What's wrong? Didn't get any money, and now you're upset?"

Chen Yang came to see her today purely out of desperation.

Chen Yang was sorely offended by her words that he grabbed her by the neck in anger.

"Then tell me—if I slept with you, how would Chen Yu feel?"

Lin Zhi's heart tightened, but she remained calm on the surface: "So what? I've slept with plenty of young men. You're just the worst one. At most, I'll just consider it a dog bite."

She curled the corners of her lips into a slight chuckle and retorted, "But what good would it do you to sleep with me? Chen Yu would only hate you more, and the police wouldn't let you off the hook."

"If I were you, I'd take this opportunity to ask for more money. If I get a card, I'd play it where it's valuable."

Chen Yang squinted at her for a few seconds. Of course he knew she was right. He might take her hostage to get revenge on Chen Yu, which would at most cause Chen Yu some pain for a while, but what would happen after that? He would gain nothing.

But if he uses her as leverage to get money, he can still run away.

He dragged Lin Zhi to the rooftop. A night breeze swept in, blowing her hair across her face; below them hung dozens of stories high in the air. Chen Yang stood beside her, holding his phone, aimed at the camera.

"Chen Yu, if you had arrived a second later, I would have pushed her off the roof."

Less than ten minutes later, the door to the top floor was pushed open.

Chen Yu was wearing a dark, thin jacket, her hair was a little messy from the wind, and she was breathing heavily, as if she had been running for a long time.

His gaze passed over Chen Yang and landed on Lin Zhi, as if confirming something, before returning to Chen Yang's face.

"Let her go. This is between us and has nothing to do with her."

Chen Yang chuckled and pressed the knife against Lin Zhi's face: "I didn't expect you to care about her so much? Chen Yu, this face is so beautiful, I can't bear to slash it."

"Don't touch her!" Chen Yu's voice was tinged with panic.

Chen Yang sneered, "Fine. Transfer fifty million US dollars to my overseas account. Get the car ready; I'll release them once I'm at a safe place."

"Okay." Chen Yu replied without hesitation.

Lin Zhi stared at him, then couldn't help but call out, "Chen Yu!"

Chen Yu didn't look at her. He took out his phone and said, "Tell the finance department to transfer the funds now."

Lin Zhi bit her lip, something churning in her chest.

Fifty million US dollars, nearly four hundred million, how could he agree without hesitation...?

She forced herself to remain calm. Financial payments required procedures, and vehicles needed to be dispatched. Perhaps this was just Chen Yu's delaying tactic.

"I never expected Chen Yu to give up so much for a woman!" Chen Yang suddenly laughed, the tip of his knife flashing beside her face. "I've changed my mind. Kneel down now, or I'll take her life right now."

Lin Zhi's heart sank.

Chen Yu stood there, the wind blowing his shirt clinging to his body, and he glanced at her.

His knee slammed into the concrete, making a dull thud.

Lin Zhi felt as if something had hit her heart, leaving a dull, painful, and cracked feeling.

Over the years, she has been beaten, scolded, and surrounded by rumors at school. She has also been forced to drink by clients until she vomited in the bathroom until her stomach was empty.

She rarely cried. She told herself that tears were for the weak, that she didn't rely on anyone, and that she could bear it all herself.

But at this moment, that proud man knelt on the ground for her. The wind blew the stray hairs on his forehead, but his gaze remained fixed on her, never wavering.

She had never been so favored in her life. No one had ever reached out a hand when she fell, no one had ever shielded her from the wind, and no one had ever been willing to set aside all their dignity for her.

She thought she would never have such luck in her life.

She could no longer hold back her tears.

"Chen Yu..."

Chen Yang laughed maniacally and triumphantly: "Hahaha, Chen Yu, you've finally met your match—"

Halfway through his laughter, a dark figure flipped over from the edge of the rooftop and kicked him in the back. The knife slipped from his hand, and Chen Zheng pressed down, twisting his arm behind his back and snapping the handcuffs shut.

He grabbed Chen Yang, clenching his fist and then releasing it: "The only reason I'm not killing you today is because I'm wearing this police uniform."

Chen Zheng led the man downstairs.

He didn't say anything, but just glanced back at the two people.

Chen Yu stood up, walked quickly over, and pulled Lin Zhi into his arms.

Lin Zhi hugged him tightly, crying and trembling all over.

She had never cried during the most difficult times, never cried when facing life and death, and never cried during any of the most unbearable nights over the years. But now, as she held him, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

"Chen Yu, I don't deserve this from you..."

Chen Yu's voice trembled: "It was worth it."

"Lin Zhi, I was the one who fell for you first, what are you afraid of?"

Yes, what is she afraid of?

She thought she had long since lost the ability to love, and every time she felt a slight stirring of emotion, she would subconsciously suppress the feelings of liking.

She was used to relying on herself for everything, and used to having no expectations anymore.

But at this moment, she was being held in his arms, the wind was still blowing, and the rooftop was still cold, but she suddenly felt that it might not be so scary to give it a try.

It turns out that love really can give people courage, and it can also make people grow flesh and blood like crazy.

At this moment, she wanted to be brave for once.