Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Choice Between Two, President Shen

“Oh my god, President Shen actually brought Zhou Qingfei to the company,” the young assistant blurted out, interrupting Jiang Yunzhu’s train of thought.

Jiang Yunzhu looked over. Those people were gossiping about rumors between her and Zhou Qingfei, yet Shen Ruizhang offered no explanation and didn’t stop them either. In the past, anyone who spread gossip like that would have been fired by him at the first opportunity. All these years, only Zhou Qingfei had been an exception.

Jiang Yunzhu's resignation had yet to be approved. She had to swallow her anger and suppress the trending topic completely. Just as the hot search was removed, Zhou Qingfei stood up, ready to leave. At that moment, Zhou Qingfei entered.

She stepped forward and affectionately hooked her arm through Jiang Yunzhu’s.

“Zhouzhou, you’ve worked so hard for me. Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you home.”

Zhou Qingfei wanted to take her home?

Jiang Yunzhu glanced at Zhou Qingfei’s eyes, then pushed her away.

“No need.”

“Zhouzhou.” Zhou Qingfei’s eyes immediately reddened. “Are you angry? I’m sorry, I’ll go talk to A-Rui right away.”

She made to leave, as if heading to find Shen Ruizhang.

Jiang Yunzhu smiled faintly. “President Shen is probably still in a meeting. Miss Zhou, you can go straight to the conference room.”

Zhou Qingfei’s smile froze.

In an instant, her eyes filled with tears, her gaze misty as she looked at Jiang Yunzhu.

“Zhouzhou, I just wanted to check on you. Can you stop misunderstanding me?”

Jiang Yunzhu raised an eyebrow, her eyes sharpening with curiosity. Was she feigning vulnerability to make everyone think Jiang Yunzhu was bullying her?

Jiang Yunzhu smiled. “All right, let’s go together.”

She was curious to see what tricks Zhou Qingfei had up her sleeve.

Seeing her relent, Zhou Qingfei immediately beamed and once again took Jiang Yunzhu’s arm.

Jiang Yunzhu let her lead the way.

Once outside the office building, Zhou Qingfei hailed a cab.

In the car, Jiang Yunzhu glanced at Zhou Qingfei, who was bent over her phone, and voiced her suspicion directly: “Miss Zhou, aren’t you afraid of being seen by reporters, going out unmasked like this?”

Zhou Qingfei smiled dismissively. “A-Rui will settle everything for me. It’s nothing.”

Her confidence stung Jiang Yunzhu, a flash of bitterness passing through her eyes.

In the end, it would still fall to her to clean up the mess.

Suddenly, Jiang Yunzhu noticed they weren’t heading to the hospital.

She eyed the driver warily. “Driver, this isn’t the way to the hospital.”

The driver didn’t reply; instead, he sped up.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingfei panicked too. “I’m Shen Ruizhang’s girlfriend! If you dare hurt me, he won’t let you off!”

Bang—

Something slammed into the car ahead.

Jiang Yunzhu’s head struck the partition, leaving her dizzy and her vision fading to black.

She lost consciousness.

When she woke again, the room was pitch dark, with only a sliver of light by the door.

Outside, a man’s rough voice rang out: “Hurry and call Shen Ruizhang. Tell him his woman is in my hands, and he’d better bring the money if he wants her back.”

They’d been kidnapped?

“You’re awake?” Zhou Qingfei’s voice suddenly sounded by her ear.

Jiang Yunzhu adjusted to the darkness, turning to the blurred figure beside her.

“Miss Zhou, you don’t seem scared?”

Zhou Qingfei let out a few soft laughs.

“Zhouzhou, do you believe A-Rui will come to save me in the end?”

“Mm.” Jiang Yunzhu leaned against the wall, closing her eyes to conserve strength.

Just as Zhou Qingfei said—Shen Ruizhang would only choose her. As for herself, left behind, she’d have to bear the anger of these kidnappers. She had to rely on herself to survive.

Seeing her so indifferent, Zhou Qingfei’s eyes flashed with displeasure.

She leaned in deliberately. “Zhouzhou, you like A-Rui, don’t you?”

Jiang Yunzhu stiffened instantly.

She opened her eyes, her dark gaze steady and candid as she nodded.

“Yes, I do.”

Zhou Qingfei was taken aback, then anger flickered in her eyes.

But Jiang Yunzhu’s next words stunned her.

“I do like my uncle. He’s my elder, and he’s always looked after me. Isn’t it natural that I like him?”

Her gaze was so honest, utterly free of indecency.

Zhou Qingfei, fuming, could find nowhere to vent her frustration.

“In the past, I had a little quarrel with A-Rui and he was upset with me. But now things are different—I’m back, so he’ll only choose me. Don’t get your hopes up about him.”

Jiang Yunzhu said nothing.

She had to save her strength if she wanted to escape.

No idea how long had passed before Shen Ruizhang’s voice sounded from outside.

Zhou Qingfei’s eyes lit up.

“Told you, A-Rui would come to save me.”

Chapter 28

The door was soon opened again.

A man grabbed Jiang Yunzhu and started dragging her out.

Zhou Qingfei tried to grab his arm, exclaiming, “You’ve got the wrong person! I’m A-Rui’s beloved!”

“Shut up!” The man barked, then warned again, “Behave yourself. Make a sound and you’re dead.”

With that, Jiang Yunzhu was taken outside.

Seeing she was unharmed, Shen Ruizhang visibly relaxed.

But when he looked at the kidnapper, his gaze turned icy and vicious.

“Let her go.”

The man snorted contemptuously.

He lewdly patted Jiang Yunzhu’s face and laughed. “Such tender skin. President Shen, you really are lucky. You want her? Fine—did you bring the money?”

“Here.” Shen Ruizhang immediately tossed over a suitcase.

The man ordered his lackey to check it.

Once they confirmed it was real cash, he nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad—President Shen keeps his word.”

Shen Ruizhang kept his eyes fixed on Jiang Yunzhu. “Don’t be afraid, Zhouzhou. Uncle will take you home now.”

He stepped toward Jiang Yunzhu.

“Wait,” the man suddenly said.

Shen Ruizhang looked at him in displeasure. “You have the money. Why aren’t you letting her go?”

The man grinned. “I forgot to mention—this money only covers one person. What about the other?”

“What?” Shen Ruizhang shot a glance at Jiang Yunzhu, who stood silent and downcast, his expression growing darker.

Just then, Zhou Qingfei was also brought out.

Her tearful, pitiful gaze turned to Shen Ruizhang.

“A-Rui, I’m so scared.”

Seeing her, Shen Ruizhang’s eyes went bloodshot. “You kidnapped her too? How dare you!”

The man threw his head back and laughed wildly.

“Just being thorough. Don’t worry, President Shen. Pay up, and you can take her.”

“A-Rui,” Zhou Qingfei sobbed, her face full of terror, “I’m so scared. Please save me.”

“Don’t be afraid, Qingfei,” Shen Ruizhang replied instinctively as he moved toward her.

As for Jiang Yunzhu, he had already thrown her to the back of his mind.

As he approached Zhou Qingfei, the man blocked him with an electric baton.

“President Shen, it’s not that we won’t let them go, but you haven’t paid enough. Pick one.”

A dangerous glint appeared in Shen Ruizhang’s eyes. “What?”

The man shrugged, looking completely shameless. “Nothing for it. We only planned to kidnap one, but got a second for free. President Shen, why don’t you choose one?”

Choose one?

Did that mean…

A layer of frost rapidly settled over Shen Ruizhang’s handsome face.

He warned coldly, “I’m taking them both.”

“No can do. Only one,” the man refused at once.

“Both. I want them both,” Shen Ruizhang repeated, anger surging in his deep eyes. It was clear he was already contemplating how these men should die.

Sensing the imminent danger, the man’s heart clenched, his gaze locked on Shen Ruizhang.

His henchman couldn’t take it and began trembling uncontrollably.

“Boss, maybe we should just let them both go.”

“Shut up!” the man snapped, pulling out a bottle of acid.

“Trying to bargain, President Shen? Maybe your family is powerful, but I’m not afraid. Life means nothing to me—if we die, we die together! If you want them to live, make a choice. Two pretty faces—which one do you want scarred for life?”

Zhou Qingfei burst into tears.

“A-Rui, I’m a celebrity! My face is my livelihood—I can’t be disfigured.”

“Zhouzhou…” Shen Ruizhang looked at Jiang Yunzhu with guilt.

Seeing this, Jiang Yunzhu let out a self-mocking laugh.

She glanced at Shen Ruizhang, then quickly lowered her head.

She didn’t want to see his hesitation.

It sickened her.

The man urged impatiently, “What are you dawdling for? Aren’t you supposed to be decisive, President Shen? Can’t even make such a simple choice? Fine, I’ll choose for you.”

With that, he flung the acid at both of them.

“Aah!” Zhou Qingfei let out a piercing scream.

Shen Ruizhang threw himself in front of Zhou Qingfei without hesitation.

It hurt—Jiang Yunzhu felt the burning splash of metal on her skin, pain searing everywhere.

“A-Rui, it hurts so much!”

Shen Ruizhang was struck as well, but hearing Zhou Qingfei’s cries, he ignored his own injuries and immediately scooped her up to leave.

But when he saw the wounded look in Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes, he hesitated.

“A-Rui, I’m in so much pain,” Zhou Qingfei whimpered.

Shen Ruizhang’s gaze hardened. “Hold on a little longer. I’ll take Qingfei to the hospital first, then come back for you.”

With that, he rushed out.

Jiang Yunzhu stared blankly after his receding figure, then suddenly laughed aloud.

“What are you laughing at?” the man demanded, eyeing her warily.