Captivating Beauty 127

Chapter 127: Side Story 15

“Ms. Han, we’re sure to win this bid, right?”

Han Wenling looked up at her assistant. “Are you that confident?”

“If it were the old Mr. Cai, perhaps it would be a close call. But it’s his daughter this time. While she’s made a name for herself these past two years, she’s still inexperienced,” the assistant replied.

“Her lack of experience doesn’t mean she’s incompetent. Never underestimate anyone in the business world,” Han Wenling said calmly.

The assistant paused, then nodded. “Understood. But Miss Cai’s assistant is quite capable. I heard our old Mr. Han even tried to recruit her.”

Han Wenling’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Zhou Qing…”

“Miss Cai’s success these past few years is largely due to Zhou Qing’s assistance. I heard she was even the one who negotiated the deal with the Chen family,” the assistant continued.

Han Wenling’s finger unconsciously traced a path across her desk, the name “Zhou Qing” a familiar one, always mentioned whenever she inquired about Cai Ying.

She took a deep breath, then, after a moment, asked about her schedule.

“Ms. Han, your afternoon is free. You have a dinner meeting with Mr. Zhou at KL Restaurant tonight. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” she replied, her thoughts elsewhere.

It had been two months since her last encounter with Cai Ying.

They hadn’t met often these past few years, and she didn’t understand her own persistence, the way a single encounter would leave her wanting more, the memory of Cai Ying’s smile, her laughter, a constant presence in her mind.

She had grown accustomed to seeing Cai Ying with Zhou Qing, yet the sight still brought a pang of jealousy, a tightness in her chest.

She had never imagined these feelings would linger for so long, the ache in her heart a constant reminder of what she had lost.

She often wondered what would have happened if she hadn’t used a fake identity, if she had been honest with Cai Ying from the start.

But there were no second chances.

After lunch, the team dispersed, returning to their desks or leaving for the day.

Cai Ying, having a dinner meeting with a potential business partner at KL Restaurant, returned to the office, planning to leave directly from there.

Zhou Qing, who hadn’t had any alcohol, dismissed her driver for the afternoon and drove Cai Ying back to the office.

“You can go home and rest. I can go to the meeting myself later,” Cai Ying said.

“Okay,” Zhou Qing replied without hesitation.

Her immediate agreement made Cai Ying pause, a strange hollowness, a sudden emptiness, and she instinctively turned to look at her.

Zhou Qing, sensing her gaze, turned her head slightly. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice gentle.

“Nothing,” Cai Ying replied, looking away.

It was a strange feeling, that simple “okay,” a casual dismissal that had left her feeling… unsettled.

They arrived at the office building and got out of the car.

“Aren’t you leaving?” Cai Ying asked.

“I need to get something from the office. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?” Zhou Qing asked, a playful smile on her face, her features softening.

Cai Ying went to her office, then, after a moment, changed her mind and returned to the main office area, where she saw Zhou Qing helping a new employee, a pretty young woman, with something on her computer.

Zhou Qing was leaning over her desk, her light gray suit jacket stretching slightly as she moved, her voice low as she explained something, her touch gentle as she pointed at the screen.

The new employee’s face was flushed, her gaze constantly flicking upwards to meet Zhou Qing’s, the unspoken admiration obvious.

Quite the popular assistant, Cai Ying thought, a flicker of annoyance, then she quietly returned to her office, closing the door behind her.

She sat down at her desk, the memory of that day in the car, crying on Zhou Qing’s shoulder, then the image of Zhou Qing patiently helping the new employee, her touch gentle and her voice soothing, made her heart ache.

She had never considered the possibility of Zhou Qing leaving, of Zhou Qing finding someone else, getting married, having a family…

The thought bothered her, a strange, unfamiliar feeling.

Later that afternoon, Cai Ying checked the time; it was almost time for her dinner meeting.

She hadn’t been very productive today.

She closed the file on her desk, and just then, a knock came at the door.

She looked up, surprised. “I thought you left,” she said to Zhou Qing, who was holding a folder.

“I have something for you. It might be useful for your meeting,” Zhou Qing said, handing her the folder, which contained the latest wholesale price list from their competitor.

“Where did you get this?”

“It’s not comprehensive, but it has the key prices. I double-checked this afternoon,” Zhou Qing explained. “Focus on page one during your negotiation…” Her voice trailed off as she met Cai Ying’s gaze.

“You spent your afternoon doing this? You didn’t even rest?” Cai Ying asked, noticing the slight sheen of sweat on Zhou Qing’s forehead.

“I thought the client was leaning towards us, but they were also trying to negotiate a lower price, which is why they mentioned considering our competitor. Now that we know their prices are similar, there’s nothing to worry about. Just relax and focus on the meeting,” Zhou Qing replied.

Cai Ying, her heart warming at her words, took a tissue and gently wiped Zhou Qing’s forehead, her touch light and hesitant.

Zhou Qing instinctively reached out, her hand covering Cai Ying’s, their fingers brushing against each other.

They both froze for a moment, then Zhou Qing quickly pulled her hand away. “I can do it,” she murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“Here,” Cai Ying said, handing her the tissue.

“Should I drive you to the restaurant, or should I arrange for a driver?” Zhou Qing asked.

Cai Ying looked at her. “Do you have plans?”

Zhou Qing shook her head. “No.”

“Then come with me,” Cai Ying said, tilting her chin up slightly. “They’ll probably bring their assistants and secretaries. I’ll look bad going alone.” She hadn’t even realized she had used both formal and informal terms of address in the same sentence.

Zhou Qing’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Okay,” she replied.

She paused. “I thought you didn’t want me to come, since you said you would go alone.”

Cai Ying frowned. “Why wouldn’t I want you to come? I saw you were still working at 2 a.m. last night. I wanted you to get some rest,” she said, then, as her eyes met Zhou Qing’s, her heart skipping a beat, she quickly looked away, flustered by the sudden intensity of Zhou Qing’s gaze.

“I’ll go get the car then. Take your time,” Zhou Qing said, her voice gentle, a hint of amusement in her tone.

It was 7:30 p.m. when Cai Ying and Zhou Qing finally finished their meeting.

The contract was almost finalized, and as Zhou Qing had predicted, the client favored Cai Ying’s company. And with the price list Zhou Qing had obtained, the negotiations had gone smoothly.

“It’s still early. Want to do something else?” Cai Ying asked.

Zhou Qing turned to her. “Something… else?” she asked, her voice a soft murmur, the words, combined with Cai Ying’s suggestive tone, a clear double entendre, even to Cai Ying herself, despite her attempts to suppress her more… unconventional thoughts, her years of friendship with Tong Jia having corrupted her.

“I mean, like… go for coffee, or to a bar,” she clarified, hoping Zhou Qing hadn’t misinterpreted her meaning.

“I’m perfectly capable of… misinterpreting things,” Zhou Qing said, her voice a low murmur, a playful glint in her eyes.

Cai Ying paused, her face burning. She had accidentally voiced her thoughts aloud.

Zhou Qing, seeing her flustered expression, smiled faintly, her earlobes turning a delicate pink. “Am I… too innocent in your eyes? Completely clueless about… certain things?”

Cai Ying understood instantly, though they had rarely discussed such topics, even after all these years.

And whenever they did, it was usually Cai Ying who initiated it, her playful teasing often making Zhou Qing blush.

But this was the first time Zhou Qing had brought it up herself.

“Senior, have I… corrupted you?” Cai Ying asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Zhou Qing glanced at a nearby ice cream shop. “Not corrupted, perhaps, but… influenced, inevitably,” she replied, her voice soft.

Cai Ying: “…”

“Want some ice cream?” Zhou Qing asked, changing the subject, gesturing towards the shop.

Cai Ying nodded, and Zhou Qing walked towards it.

Just then, Cai Ying saw Han Wenling emerging from the elevator.

By the time Zhou Qing turned around, ice cream in hand, Han Wenling had already reached Cai Ying, and she handed Cai Ying the cone – chocolate flavor, Cai Ying’s favorite.

Han Wenling’s gaze shifted from Zhou Qing’s face to the ice cream.

“Want to… talk somewhere?” she asked, her voice soft.

Normally, Cai Ying would have refused, but today, she didn’t.

At the cafe, Zhou Qing didn’t follow them inside. “I’ll wait for you outside,” she said.

“It’s fine. Come in,” Cai Ying said.

Han Wenling’s expression flickered, a hint of jealousy, though she knew Cai Ying and Zhou Qing weren’t dating yet. But their easy familiarity, their comfortable intimacy, wasn’t something you would see between casual acquaintances.

Cai Ying was friendly, but not with everyone.

“Let’s talk… alone,” she said, her voice tight.

Before Cai Ying could reply, Zhou Qing said, “It’s fine. I’ll wait for you in the car.” She knew Han Wenling hadn’t given up on Cai Ying, her deliberate concessions during their previous business dealings a clear sign of her lingering affection.

And knowing Cai Ying, this conversation was inevitable.

And if she was there, it might not be a clean break, a final ending, which was what she wanted.

She wanted this to be over.

And… she didn’t want Cai Ying to call her “Senior” anymore.

“Let’s be honest. I know you deliberately conceded those two projects, but it wasn’t necessary,” Cai Ying said, her voice calm, as Han Wenling added two sugar cubes to her coffee and stirred it slowly. “I’m not interested in your… charity.”

She paused. “I just wanted to… make amends for my past mistakes. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

Cai Ying took a sip of her iced blueberry juice, the cool, sweet liquid a welcome contrast to the bitterness of the coffee Han Wenling was drinking.

“I hope you won’t do that again,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” Han Wenling replied. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

She clenched her jaw, remembering Cai Ying’s sharp business acumen, her natural talent, her potential for success. She had never underestimated her.

But Cai Ying clearly thought she had.

“I just… I didn’t want you to overwork yourself,” she explained.

Cai Ying, her expression unchanged, simply nodded. “I know. That’s why I said I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

“Okay, I understand. I won’t do it again,” Han Wenling said.

Cai Ying looked at her. “Is there anything else you wanted to say?”

“Yes,” Han Wenling replied.

“Go ahead,” Cai Ying said, her voice flat, devoid of any expectation, as if she wasn’t interested in whatever Han Wenling had to say.

This indifference, this detachment, was what Han Wenling found most difficult to bear.

It was as if she was the only one still clinging to the past, their shared history now a distant memory, a faded photograph.

“I can’t forget you,” she said softly.

“I won’t deny that I still had feelings for you, even after we broke up, despite my harsh words. But Han Wenling, even then, I never considered going back,” Cai Ying said, her voice calm and steady. “Our relationship started with a lie, and it ended with one. The feelings I had for you were for the ‘Teacher Han’ who never lied to me, not the Han Wenling who deceived me, who was about to get engaged to someone else.”

Han Wenling’s eyes reddened as she looked at Cai Ying, her own lips pressed together, unable to speak, the weight of her past mistakes, her lies and manipulations, a heavy burden.

Cai Ying continued, her voice soft yet firm. “You said we’ve been apart for years, but what have you done to… try to win me back? Those two projects you conceded? Or those occasional glimpses of you at social gatherings, alone and… melancholy? Han Wenling, admit it, you only care about yourself. You say you still have feelings for me, that you can’t let go, but it’s not because I’m irreplaceable. It’s because I was there, at a time when you needed… a distraction, a temporary escape from your own unhappiness.”

“That’s not true!” Han Wenling exclaimed, her voice rising slightly.

“I know I was wrong from the start, but my feelings for you were real. At least, my feelings were real. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. You’re right, I’m alone in this world, without you. I have nothing left. Cai Ying, I love you,” she said, her voice breaking.

Cai Ying’s heart ached at her words, but she didn’t feel any… affection, only a lingering sadness, a pity for the woman who had once made her so happy.

She looked away, her gaze fixed on the street outside. “Really? Then prove it. Show me how much you love me,” she said, her voice calm.

“I don’t want those… insincere concessions. I want the Han Corporation to withdraw from every project Cai Enterprises is involved in, from now on. Can you do that?” she asked, turning back to Han Wenling, her gaze meeting hers.

Han Wenling paused, and in that brief silence, Cai Ying saw a flicker of… calculation in her eyes, then she smiled faintly.

“I…” Han Wenling began.

“You can’t,” Cai Ying interrupted.

“Your first thought wasn’t whether you could do it, but what it would cost you, the potential losses for the Han Corporation. You say you have nothing left, but you still cling to your power, your status. The Han Corporation is your priority. You didn’t even consider whether I, Cai Ying, would even ask for such a thing,” she said, her voice soft, yet her words sharp, precise, like needles piercing through Han Wenling’s carefully constructed facade.

Han Wenling’s face paled, Cai Ying’s words a painful reminder of her own flaws, her selfishness, her inability to truly connect with anyone.

“I’m not blaming you. This is who you are. You need power, control, more than you need… love, connection. Han Wenling, let’s end this here. Let’s both move on,” Cai Ying said gently.

“And you?” Han Wenling asked, her voice barely a whisper. “Do you really… not feel anything for me anymore?”

Cai Ying’s gaze was steady, unwavering. “No,” she replied.

It was over.

She stood up. “And Cai Enterprises doesn’t need your charity. We’ll win that bid tomorrow, fair and square,” she said, her voice firm.

“Cai Ying!” Han Wenling exclaimed, her gaze fixed on the bitter coffee in front of her. “Do you… love her?”

Outside the cafe, Zhou Qing sat in the driver’s seat, her phone in her hand, her thoughts elsewhere.

After waiting for over fifteen minutes, glancing at the cafe entrance every few seconds, she finally got out of the car, the restlessness a physical ache, and paced outside, the cool air a welcome distraction.

Then, she saw a familiar figure emerge from the cafe.

Cai Ying walked over to her, holding a drink carrier. “This is for you,” she said, her voice cheerful, handing her a cup. “It’s really good. I got you one too.”

It was blueberry juice, Zhou Qing’s favorite.

Cai Ying’s smile, bright and radiant, her light-colored eyes sparkling in the sunlight, made her look like a mischievous elf.

Han Wenling, watching them from the cafe entrance, their easy familiarity a painful contrast to her own loneliness, suddenly felt the bitterness of her coffee, despite the two sugar cubes she had added.

Cai Ying had said it wasn’t about Han Wenling’s mistakes, her deception, but simply that there were other things, more important things, in Cai Ying’s world now.

Cai Ying wanted something pure, something real, something Han Wenling, with her baggage, her past, her need for control, couldn’t offer.

And what she couldn’t give, someone else had, freely and without reservation.

Han Wenling closed her eyes, then opened them again, the tears that had been threatening to spill now receding, her expression hardening.

It was time to move on.

“Do you love her?” Han Wenling had asked.

“Yes,” Cai Ying had replied, her voice soft yet firm.