Chapter 483: Chapter 483 This Woman Must Be Eliminated
“I saw her, but there’s nothing special.”
Bai Ruoshu stepped forward and picked up the cut flowers from the table to put them in a vase.
The woman stopped her, “Those are meant to be thrown away.”
Bai Ruoshu paused, “They’re quite lovely.”
“Looks don’t matter. Pruning them will help the next batch bloom better,” the woman said with a hint of meaning.
Upon hearing this, Bai Ruoshu tossed the flowers straight into the trash.
The woman, without turning around, continued, “If you want to marry into the Gong Family, this woman must be eliminated. It’s understandable for men to love beautiful women, but marrying a wife is different.”
“Mom, Third Young Master is not the kind of man who indulges in female beauty,” Bai Ruoshu replied.
The woman put down the scissors and chuckled lightly, “It seems you’re quite satisfied with the man we chose for you.”
“At least, he’s better than those ridiculous ones before.”
Bai Ruoshu was never short of suitors.
But she didn’t fancy any of them.
She had wealth, looks, and ability and never needed to compromise for any man.
Unless that man was stronger than her.
The woman watered the plants, “Perform well at the charity gala, and you’ll have a firm standing in Jing City; then it won’t be too late to discuss marriage.”
“Mom, don’t worry, Lin Zhiyi is not even a consideration for me.”
“Hmm, go rest.”
“You should get some rest too.”
With that, Bai Ruoshu turned and went back to her room.
Just as she was about to take a bath, her phone rang.
“Miss, it’s been taken care of.”
“Very good.”
After hanging up, Bai Ruoshu smiled and went to take a bath.
…
Su He Bay.
After Lin Zhiyi returned home, she saw Liao Yi asleep on the sofa and felt a bit guilty.
She gently patted him, “Liao Yi, go sleep in the guest room. There’s no need to run back and forth tonight.”
Liao Yi stretched and happened to see Lin Zhiyi’s red and swollen lips, and smirked secretly.
“No need, I’m used to staying up late; this is nothing. I’m off to grab a night snack. I won’t interrupt your romantic evening.”
“What romantic evening…”
Just as Lin Zhiyi was about to interrupt, Liao Yi had already whisked away tactfully.
She wondered aloud, “What’s with Liao Yi?”
Gong Chen took off his coat and tapped his lips with a fingertip.
Instinctively, Lin Zhiyi raised her phone to take a look and saw her swollen lips with lipstick smeared, instantly understanding why Liao Yi was grinning.
She put down the phone and waved her hand, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Gong Chen grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her over.
“Let’s go see Xingxing together.”
“Mm.”
They walked into the children’s room, where soft starlight flickered on the ceiling.
Xingxing slept on her princess bed, hugging her little bunny.
Adorable and sweet.
Lin Zhiyi gazed at her face and became slightly absent-minded.
Gong Chen adjusted Xingxing’s blanket and then asked quietly, “Work?”
“Mm.”
Lin Zhiyi had no intention of hiding from Gong Chen.
For an entire week, she tried to find opportunities to integrate her own design with Bai Ruoshu’s.
But whenever she spoke up, Bai Ruoshu found excuses to shut her down.
Bai Ruoshu did agree to let her participate in the design, but never allowed her any involvement.
The joint design was fundamentally a sham.
Yet, for Lin Zhiyi to reenter the jewelry circle, going through Xue Man was the fastest route.
She couldn’t make things difficult for Xue Man.
Seeing her dilemma, Gong Chen asked, “Do you need my help?”
Lin Zhiyi shook her head, declining his kind offer.
“You’ve already helped me return to the studio; the rest of the journey, you can’t assist me endlessly.”
“I admit I’m currently not qualified to compete with Bai Ruoshu, but I believe I’ll get better and better.”
“Besides…”
As she spoke, her gaze fell on Gong Chen.
When their eyes met, she closed her mouth.
At the instant she pondered this issue, she realized that she instinctively included Gong Chen in her considerations.
The gap between her and Gong Chen was vast.
In family affairs, background, capabilities, and so forth.
Lin Zhiyi didn’t want others to believe she gained status through intimate relations.
Nor did she want, like in a past life, to be powerless and hiding in a villa when things happened.
Now she was not Gong Chen’s wife.
She was Lin Zhiyi, Xingxing’s mom.
She could face everything.
Gong Chen remained silent for a moment, “Besides what?”
“Nothing. I’m going to take a bath.”
Afraid of being seen through by Gong Chen, Lin Zhiyi quickly got up and left the children’s room.
After she finished her bath and came out, Gong Chen, holding clothes, silently went into the bathroom.
Lin Zhiyi didn’t notice anything, dried her hair, and slipped into the warm bed.
Just as she was dozing off, a hand wrapped around her from behind, tightening more and more.
She frowned, as if in a nightmare.
Warm breath tickled her ears, drawing closer bit by bit.
“Lin Zhiyi, besides what?”
“…”
Lin Zhiyi opened her eyes.
He was still tangled up in this?
The man’s breathing halted slightly, and in some frustration, he said, “Are you so indifferent that you can’t even bother to brush me off now? Am I the type to interfere with your work?”
Lin Zhiyi nodded earnestly, “Mm…ow.”
No sooner had she spoken than her waist was nearly twisted off.
“Zhiyi, am I spoiling you too much now?”
He leaned over her, gazing down with inscrutable black eyes, seemingly brewing something.
Lin Zhiyi felt uneasy under his intense scrutiny.
“Third Young Master, do you really want to hear it?”
“What do you think?” Gong Chen leaned in closer.
Lin Zhiyi lay flat, meeting his eyes and spoke frankly.
“Besides, I need to think from your perspective.”
“The differences between us are vast. I don’t want to drag anyone down, nor want anyone to conform to me. What I love doesn’t require you to accommodate me.”
“I’m no longer the person who forced you to choose me three years ago.”
“I can choose myself.”
Gong Chen didn’t say a word, merely kept his eyes on her.
After a long while, he brushed aside the hair on her face.
“So you’re thinking of me, right?”
His straightforwardness left Lin Zhiyi a bit embarrassed.
She turned her cheek away, not speaking.
Gong Chen reached over, turning her face back to him, his breath lightly teasing, tickling her heart.
His usually emotionless face slowly warmed.
“Zhiyi, I’m not the same person who forced you to compromise three years ago. Do what you want, I won’t stop you.”
“I don’t care if it’s Bai Ruoshu or Hei Ruoshu, I just don’t want you to be aggrieved like before.”
Hearing this, Lin Zhiyi chuckled.
“Third Young Master, don’t worry. Whether black or white, I’ll find a way to resolve things myself.”
“Mm, then sleep.”
He lifted the blanket and lay down beside her.
Lin Zhiyi suddenly couldn’t laugh anymore.
“You… aren’t wearing anything?”
“Mm.” The man squinted, “I was planning to seduce you into speaking.”
“…”
Lin Zhiyi frowned, a trace of fatigue between her brows.
Gong Chen pulled the blanket up for her, “Sleep, I’ll go put on some clothes.”
When he returned in pajamas, Lin Zhiyi was already asleep.
Gong Chen gazed at her face, almost buried in the blanket, and couldn’t help but take a few more looks.
Couldn’t get enough.
Quietly, he climbed into bed and sidled close to her.
…
In the studio’s meeting room.
Xue Man was inspecting the design drafts.
Bai Ruoshu was introducing her ancient coin ring design.
Xue Man nodded but also frowned slightly.
Perhaps the style this time differed too much from Bai Ruoshu’s usual style.
As a result, the ancient coin ring design seemed too conventional, as if it lacked something.
In the end, Bai Ruoshu casually added a remark.
“This is my personal design, President Xue, feel free to offer any suggestions.”
“Personal? What’s going on? Zhiyi.”
Xue Man looked towards Lin Zhiyi, her eyebrows furrowing even deeper.