The closer the sound got, the more I stared at the door. Before long, I saw a figure. It was Pei Shi Yu, that woman. When she saw me, she was visibly surprised. I guess neither of us wanted to see the other, but sometimes things just happen that way. I saw her make a move as if to retreat.

But Director Li very enthusiastically called her over, "Shi Yu, come in! I can introduce you to everyone while you're here..."

I heard her coldly refuse, "No need!"

Director Li didn't understand what was going on. He assumed we knew each other...

"Since you already know each other, then I won't say much more. I've already contracted the landscaping portion of the project to Lin Che."

Then he picked up the contract from the table and said, "I just signed it."

She didn't say anything, but I could feel the instinctive rejection she had for me. So, being the sensible one, I said to Director Li, "How about I head out first? You're busy today. We can grab a meal together another time when you're free."

"You don't need to leave. Their company is developing this project. It's a good opportunity to explain the details."

Before I could answer, Pei Shi Yu said expressionlessly, "We can talk another day. I'll head back first."

As soon as she finished speaking, she disappeared from the office, showing her complete rejection of me to Director Li. I didn't even have time to say goodbye to Director Li before I followed her out.

I chased her all the way to the parking space before I reached out and grabbed her. She shook me off with extreme disgust...

"Get your dirty hands off me! Don't touch me!"

"Wait a moment."

She didn't listen to me. She decisively opened the car door and immediately got in.

I knew she hated me, but I just wanted to separate business from personal grudges. To stand up for myself, I had to abandon my pride.

I blocked the front of the car, intending to have a proper conversation with her, but after she started the engine, the car slowly moved forward, nudging my body. I retreated while putting my hands on the hood.

This continued for several dozen meters before she stopped, then quickly got out of the car and yelled at me, "Can you get out of here!"

"Okay! But I want to make things clear..."

"Do you even have the right to talk to me?"

"Everyone is equal. Don't act so high and mighty."

She gave me a disgusted look and went to get back into the car. Instinctively, I grabbed her wrist. The moment I let go, a burning slap landed on my face. It was extremely forceful. I stared at her wide-eyed. With a cold expression, she raised her other hand to strike again. I didn't dodge. After the crisp sound, I didn't even blink.

Throughout this, I was calmly thinking of a solution. If I treated her the same way, it would only cause more conflict. Right now, I needed positive energy, and I couldn't afford to force myself into the mud again.

If I gave up this opportunity that Director Li was giving me, I didn't know who else could help me get back on my feet. At that moment, I could distinguish the importance of things. Even though her company was the developer, objectively speaking, I had no direct business dealings with her. I was just seeking survival under Director Li's halo.

Whether it was shamelessness or self-comfort, I endured this conflict. I realized that once a person had a criminal record, they didn't even have the right to retaliate unless they destroyed their entire life.

Maybe she was also surprised that I didn't hit her back! So she didn't leave immediately. She looked at me expressionlessly for a while. I lowered my hands and looked back at her. I found her eyes very clear, though full of anger, but also revealing a unique charm.

After only a few seconds, I began to face myself squarely. She and I would always be on opposite paths. Besides putting aside my pride to gain benefits in Director Li's name, there would never be equal communication between us.

As for my past impoliteness towards her, I didn't want to bring it up again. I knew she still held a grudge, but I didn't want to guess the extent of that rejection.

I began to explain to her in a calm and peaceful tone, "Director Li and I are friends. The business he's giving me is only limited to our cooperation. Although you are the developers, we have no direct cooperative relationship. Let's write off the past grudges. Consider today as me paying for my previous behavior..."

"Write it off? Does trash like you deserve to do business under our name?" Pei Shi Yu replied in an aggressive tone.

My head started to heat up. Calmness began to replace evil. No matter how much I lowered myself, in her eyes, I would always be irredeemable. I even regretted letting her go in the first place. So, I gradually began to think about giving up this business. Since humility couldn't bring peace, why should I make myself like a beggar!

"I've never cared about doing business with your family. Before you showed up, I didn't even know this was your project. Since I'm not worthy, I'll give it up. I can forget about the two slaps today, but don't ever talk to me in that tone again."

After saying that, I started to walk away. I had only taken two steps when I heard her curse me from behind, "Someone like you doesn't deserve to be in society. It's a loophole in the law that you weren't killed."

I quickly stopped and stiffly walked back to her. I looked at her with cold eyes, staring intently at her face. Since she wanted to provoke me, then she couldn't blame me for being impolite.

"You better accumulate some merit for yourself. Heaven is watching who's right and wrong. At the same time, leave a legacy for your family. What's the point of leaving behind wealth when people die! I regret that I let you go in the past. It could have fulfilled my punishment of being put to death."

These indirect curses were aimed directly at her family who died in the plane crash. Although she didn't say it directly, it must have been jarring to hear in her ears.

I put my hands in the pockets of my coat, coldly watching her reaction. Her eyes instantly turned terrifying from being high and mighty. That emotion after touching her bottom line was immediately exposed on her face.

Just then, with an extremely swift movement, her five fingers with manicured nails suddenly clawed at my face. I had no chance to avoid it. As my hands left my pockets, a piercing pain came from my face, as if my entire face had been torn off. I couldn't describe the pain.

Seeing the blood and flesh on her fingers, it was clear how much she loathed me. I took a breath, quickly weighing whether or not to retaliate. If I did, it would definitely be fatal, almost a result of mutual destruction.

In the end, I gave up on this idea because the person standing in front of me was just a woman. I didn't want to hit her a second time.

I calmed down, closed my eyes, and felt the pain on my face. I felt the muscles twitching, and a warm blood dripped on the back of my hand. The ruthlessness of the attack was definitely no less than when the old man Pei did it.

This time, I didn't even say anything. I turned around and left the parking lot. If I didn't choose this, I was afraid I would force myself into despair again. Although the last time was Lin Hai who gave me the prison disaster, their family was also inextricably involved. Thinking about it, my mentality began to twist again. I had already convinced myself to let go of my prejudice against her.

Although in the eyes of others, I might be a bit of a wastrel, a life without a starting point could only be muddled through. If I impulsively committed an irreparable mistake, I knew very well that the rest of my life would collapse.