Chapter 498: Chapter 498 Suicide
In her previous life, Lin Zhiyi lost many design drafts due to the collaboration between Shen Yan and Song Wanqiu.
Therefore, she is extraordinarily cautious in this life.
Whenever she leaves her workstation, she locks her computer. Even discarded drafts are placed in a dedicated drawer, secured with her own lock.
Yet she didn’t expect to be targeted anyway.
Lin Zhiyi scanned her surroundings, unable to pinpoint who tampered with her computer at the moment.
Hence, she didn’t plan to alert them.
During afternoon tea, colleagues ordered some snacks paired with coffee as usual.
Lin Zhiyi volunteered to go downstairs to pick up the food.
After collecting the items, she placed a piece of Black Forest cake, which she ordered separately, in front of the reception desk.
The receptionist paused: “Is this for me?”
“Yeah, thankfully you called an ambulance for my friend yesterday, otherwise, if something had happened to her and her unborn baby, I really couldn’t explain it.”
With a reason given, the receptionist happily accepted the dessert.
“No worries. I actually didn’t believe you would mess up, and fortunately, everything has cleared up.”
Lin Zhiyi nodded, then pretended to casually glance towards the surveillance room nearby.
She whispered, “The scene at the door yesterday must have been captured by the surveillance, right? There won’t be any problems, will there?”
The receptionist took a bite of the Black Forest cake and shook her head: “Don’t worry, the surveillance room is locked, common people can’t enter.”
Lin Zhiyi curiously asked, “Does this mean it’s still accessible?”
The receptionist indifferently replied, “Yeah, sometimes when someone from the office loses something, the security will be asked to go in and check the surveillance. After all, we are a jewelry design company; we can’t afford to lose anything.”
“True. Has anyone lost anything recently?” Lin Zhiyi inquired.
The receptionist thought for a few seconds and suddenly exclaimed.
“Yes, a couple of days ago Zhao Xuan said she lost a diamond-encrusted pen, which she designed herself for her birthday last year. Security accompanied her to review the footage and later said they found it. What’s up? Did you lose something?”
Lin Zhiyi smiled and shook her head: “No, I’m heading upstairs to deliver the stuff.”
“Alright.”
Back in the office.
Lin Zhiyi didn’t confront Zhao Xuan, instead, she joined everyone for some afternoon tea.
Because she believed Zhao Xuan wouldn’t be that foolish.
The two of them collaborated three years ago; Xue Man was well aware of each other’s design styles.
Even if Zhao Xuan got hold of her design drafts, they wouldn’t be very useful.
Therefore, she thought Zhao Xuan must have used her design drafts for other purposes.
After calming down, Lin Zhiyi occasionally secretly observed Zhao Xuan.
That afternoon, Zhao Xuan entered Bai Ruoshu’s office four or five times.
When did their relationship become so good?
Lin Zhiyi clenched her pen tightly, pondering what to do next.
…
Office.
Bai Ruoshu was sending a message to her mother.
“Mom, the plan is progressing smoothly. That foolish woman probably hasn’t realized it yet.”
“Just a final step, don’t be careless.”
“Rest assured, I will definitely stand beside the Third Young Master.”
“Why haven’t I seen you so enthusiastic about men before?”
“He’s different. I feel like he suits me well.”
Bai Ruoshu’s tone carried a sense of pride.
Her mother replied with a smile.
Just as they finished chatting, the office door knocked.
“Come in.”
Bai Ruoshu closed her phone, a faint smile on her lips.
Zhao Xuan pushed open the door, holding a plate of red velvet cake.
“Miss Bai, everyone ordered afternoon tea, so I ordered a small cake for you.”
“Thank you.”
Bai Ruoshu politely accepted the diminutive plate.
Zhao Xuan casually sat down: “I saw the announcement and clarification online, will there be any issues?”
Bai Ruoshu knew Zhao Xuan came with ulterior motives.
“Don’t worry, no matter what Lin Zhiyi does, it won’t change the outcome.”
“Miss Bai, I think we should be prepared just in case.”
Zhao Xuan felt inexplicably dissatisfied watching Lin Zhiyi drink coffee and eat snacks as if nothing was wrong.
Bai Ruoshu noticed her jealousy and said calmly: “Then what do you think we should do?”
“I’m worried that if she leaves us here and goes to another studio, wouldn’t our efforts be in vain? It’s better to nip it in the bud. I heard that offending the Gong Family will definitely get you blacklisted. If she loses her composure at tomorrow’s meeting and makes any mistakes, wouldn’t that…”
Zhao Xuan had been in the studio for so long, she was never a good person.
She hated Lin Zhiyi and wouldn’t give her an inch of retreat.
Bai Ruoshu stared at Zhao Xuan’s ambitious eyes, coldly laughing inside.
Exposing one’s ambitions is never a good thing.
But for her, it was beneficial.
With Fang Lai’er caught and Gong Chen seemingly suspecting her, certain things needed to be preemptively done.
Bai Ruoshu pulled out a piece of paper from her bag, which only had a phone number on it.
“Find this person, give him some money, tell him what to do, and I’ll reimburse you after the job is done.”
“Who is it?” Zhao Xuan asked, puzzled.
“He will tell you himself.”
Bai Ruoshu’s gaze was indifferent, as if discussing something trivial.
Zhao Xuan nodded and left the office.
Bai Ruoshu watched the door close and directly threw the cake on the table into the trash can.
She never touches sweets that only satisfy cravings and lead to weight gain and aging.
Someone who can’t even control their mouth wants to control others?
What a joke.
Zhao Xuan found an excuse to go downstairs to the little garden to make a call.
As soon as the call connected, a gruff, impatient man’s voice came through.
“Is it Fang Lai’er again? I don’t care if she’s dead or alive!”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuan exposed a sinister smile.
…
Lin Zhiyi felt restless, unable to complete anything all afternoon.
After work, she rose to leave. Her phone began vibrating on the desk.
Upon answering, a policeman’s stern voice came through.
“Miss Lin, we might need you to come over and assist.”
“What happened?”
“Fang Lai’er attempted suicide.”
Upon hearing, Lin Zhiyi almost lost her balance.
She didn’t even know when the policeman hung up.
She hurriedly left the office, entirely missing Zhao Xuan’s schadenfreude expression behind her.
As Lin Zhiyi ran out to catch a cab, a car happened to stop in front of her.
Seeing the man getting out of the car, she felt as though she found something to hold on to, her body turned limp.
Gong Chen held her up: “I heard, Fang Lai’er is in the hospital for emergency treatment; I’ll take you there.”
“She can be caught, imprisoned, even sentenced to death; all are her comeuppance. What right does she have to attempt suicide, making it seem like we’re forcing her?”
Lin Zhiyi looked pale, her hands tightly gripping Gong Chen’s arm.
He hugged her tightly, soothing her like a child, gently cradling her head from behind.
“We can’t control others’ choices.”
Lin Zhiyi paused for a moment.
She finally realized her extreme reaction was because she intervened in Fang Lai’er’s choices.
She felt Fang Lai’er should escape her previous life’s outcome.
She wanted everyone who altered their choices to have a good end.
And so, perhaps she could also have a good result.
But now…