Chapter 4 (17) Past events like smoke

  At 16, she was still naive and met Zhang Zhiqiang in a bar. At that time, Zhang Zhiqiang was really talented! DJ, piano, violin, no matter what instrument he played, it would sound beautiful. At that time, Zhu Mei'er was just a proud little princess, with countless boys around her who wanted to get close to her but were rejected. When Zhang Zhiqiang asked her to dance, Zhu Mei'er looked at him disdainfully, expecting the usual awkwardness, but instead, Zhang Zhiqiang smiled and said softly: "Wait for me."

  Zhu Mei'er saw Zhang Zhiqiang's arrogance and determination in that smile, and her heart was immediately messed up. Her face turned red, and Zhang Zhiqiang left. The bar suddenly became quiet, and the chaotic flashing lights made people dizzy. Zhang Zhiqiang came to Zhu Mei'er again, playing a harmonica. At that time, he played a familiar tune called "Your Eyes". When Zhang Zhiqiang played the part "That's your eyes, bright and beautiful", Zhu Mei'er knew she had fallen in love with him irreparably!

  At that time, her eyes were so bright and beautiful, making many boys infatuated. Zhu Meier looked at herself in the mirror, and the beauty in the mirror stared back at her. She could no longer find those bright and beautiful eyes. The eyes in the mirror were covered with layer upon layer of indifference. Zhu Meier desperately tried to see through the depths of the eyes in the mirror, but she didn't even know what was behind them herself. Was there still a hint of purity left?

  The princess's dream always has a white horse prince, and this white horse prince can disturb the princess's heart the most. Zhang Zhiqiang's everything makes Zhu Meier so infatuated, until one day, she learns that Zhang Zhiqiang is trafficking in drugs. However, love makes her mind dizzy, Zhang Zhiqiang swears that he will never let Zhu Meier be implicated, and she believes him. Love can make women crazy, making them lose their rationality. She unconditionally trusts Zhang Zhiqiang. Zhang Zhiqiang tells her that as long as they do one more big deal, he will take her abroad to enjoy a good life...

  This vote led Zhang Zhiqiang to a road of no return. At that time, it was one of Zhang Zhiqiang's two trusted assistants who made the first stop. The anti-drug police caught one of them and used him to lure Zhang Zhiqiang, while the other escaped. He was the middleman who had been silently supporting Zhu Meier all along. Zhu Meier found it a bit difficult to recall his name, Lin Chaokun, yes! It was him!

  Lin Chaokun first met Zhu Meier in that bar, when he was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and had a scholarly air about him. He greeted her with extreme politeness, but Zhu Meier haughtily rejected him. Lin Chaokun stood awkwardly beside her for a long time before leaving.

  When Lin Chao-kun and Zhang Zhi-qiang appeared in front of her again, Zhu Mei-er could feel the fiery desire behind his glasses. However, when she reached out to Zhang Zhi-qiang, that desire receded like a tide, replaced by a complex feeling - disappointment? Anger? Jealousy? Perhaps all of these. Zhu Mei-er became Zhang Zhi-qiang's woman, and Lin Chao-kun called her "big sister". When there were people around, Lin Chao-kun was always so respectful, but when they were alone, Zhu Mei-er could feel the suppressed emotions in his eyes.

  Zhang Zhiqiang was captured, and Lin Chaokun escaped back. He arranged for Zhu Meier to escape to Country M. Zhu Meier suspected him, thinking he had betrayed Zhang Zhiqiang. He had enough reason to betray Zhang Zhiqiang, as Zhang Zhiqiang had built a massive narcotics empire that would bring huge benefits to whoever took over. When Zhu Meier was in Country M, living in fear every day, the exhausted Lin Chaokun found her. The once-massive empire of Zhang Zhiqiang had already disintegrated, and Lin Chaokun's attempts to transfer assets were also unsuccessful.

  Lin Chaokun once said to Zhu Meier: "Meier, let's find a quiet place to live."

  Ke Zhu Mei Er did not trust him, Lin Chao Kun even if it was not for Zhang Zhi Qiang's left empire, Zhu Mei Er felt his suppressed emotions towards her, a man would also do astonishing things for a woman!

  Zhu Mei'er coldly replied to him at that time: "Mei'er is not someone you can call." Announcing the impossibility of the two.

  It's not about being realistic, but being controlled by emotions. To survive, Zhu Mei'er had to find a powerful backer, as long as she could live with dignity - even if it seemed like dignity! Zhu Mei'er could only seek out a strong backer like a moth to flame, without emotion, only exchanging benefits, using her body to subdue Xinyi and gain a foothold. To survive better, she transformed from an innocent princess to a deeply cunning black widow! She took away the agency rights of China's largest market from Xinyi's hands, and also ended their romantic relationship. To survive, she needed more people to protect herself, so she hired mercenaries... then she needed more money... For desire? For survival? Zhu Mei'er didn't even know herself, she had entered a strange cycle of using money to expand, using expansion to make money, and couldn't stop even if she wanted to.

  Since being rejected, Lin Chaokun never called Zhu Meier "Meier" again. He changed his tone and called her "Sister Mei" like everyone else. Although he had many opportunities to step on Zhu Meier and become the leader himself, he didn't. Years passed and he transformed from a refined and polite young man into a robust middle-aged man with a dark complexion. Only when no one was paying attention would his gaze follow Zhu Meier's figure, revealing a loving expression.

  Zhu Meier still doesn't trust him to this day, but she can't leave without his help. He takes care of everything in an orderly manner. If Zhu Meier's small empire lost him, it would collapse instantly! Trust is a luxury, Zhu Meier thinks he is making up for the sin of betraying Zhang Zhiqiang...

  Whether Lin Chaokun had betrayed Zhang Zhiqiang, only he himself knew. Over the years, he had been obedient to Zhu Meier's words and carefully maintained a subtle relationship with her. What he was pursuing, perhaps even he didn't understand. Zhu Meier sneered, turned on the faucet, and the strong water pressure sprayed out like fine needles, piercing her delicate skin, which soon turned red.

  Zhu Meier likes this kind of stimulation. Zhu Meier tilted her head, letting the water spray on her face, and suddenly a figure of Peng Haoming flashed in her mind.

  Calm, polite and elegant, Zhu Meier's mind immediately followed with an evaluation of Peng Haoming. She herself was a little surprised, if at the beginning when she saw Peng Haoming for the first time, she just didn't dislike him. When Peng Haoming fought with Xinyi's bodyguard, a string in her heart that no one had touched for many years seemed to be lightly plucked.

  Even the strongest woman has a desire to be protected in her heart... But being protected, for Zhu Meier, isn't that also a luxury? Zhu Meier smiled self-deprecatingly. The people outside the door who were protecting her for a high salary would scatter like birds and beasts if she ever ran out of money. If someone offered an even higher price, perhaps they would turn their guns on her! Zhu Meier poured some water, gently applying body wash to herself... How wonderful it would be if there was a lover who could caress her like this? Zhu Meier's eyes became hazy with desire, a feeling she hadn't had in many years. It was like a phantom in the air, something she couldn't afford to grasp...

  Zhu Meier walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel after taking a bath, and Lin Chaokun was standing in the room.

  "Is there something?" Zhu Meier asked coldly.

  Lin Chaokun is Zhu Meier's trusted assistant. Her room can only be entered by him, but only in urgent matters.

  "The people from the factory said that recently some unknown figures have been lurking around the area and getting closer, I suspect they are spies sent by Xin Yi."

  "I know." Zhu Meier was somewhat impatient, sitting on the sofa, her long hair still dripping with water droplets. She pulled her hair forward and combed it with a comb.

  "I think we should change places, the factory hasn't entered a substantial phase yet, so changing places won't result in too much loss. And having conflicts with Xin Yi is not beneficial for us." Lin Chaokun looked at Zhu Meier's long legs on the sofa, suppressing his inner desires.

  "I said I know, I'll handle it." Zhu Meier ignored Lin Chaokun's suggestion, and a wave of annoyance rose in her heart.

  "Regarding Wang Licheng's matter, Mei Jie, are you reconsidering? I think it's better not to leave this trouble behind." Lin Chaokun suggested again.

  "Just go with whatever I arrange."

  "That secret passage has just been opened for a few months, now the checkpoint is so tight, our channel has shrunk a lot, if Wang Licheng leaks it out, I'm afraid..." Lin Chaokun tried to persuade Zhu Meier.

  "I'm tired, you go out first." Zhu Meier slammed the comb onto the table with a "bang", startling Lin Chaokun.

  "Alright..." Lin Chaokun backed down with a smile: "Mei Jie, you rest first."

  "Remember who's in charge here later." Zhu Meier said with a hateful gaze at him. Zhu Meier was not unaware that Lin Chaokun's proposal was unreasonable, but over the years, Lin Chaokun had helped Zhu Meier turn danger into safety several times. However, Zhu Meier just couldn't stand him and was annoyed by all his beneficial suggestions on this not-so-big-or-small matter!

  Lin Chaokun didn't say a word and quietly closed the door, even locking it from inside.

  Lin Chaokun was increasingly unable to fathom Zhu Meier's thoughts. Six years ago, when she escaped to M country, her eyes were filled with terror and helplessness, the world in her eyes was a scene of collapse. Over the years, Lin Chaokun watched as Zhu Meier transformed into what she is now, he could only silently support her, knowing that Zhu Meier felt he had betrayed Zhang Zhiqiang, Zhu Meier hated him, hated him for taking away everything good, and no matter how hard he tried, in Zhu Meier's eyes, he was just making amends.

  Whether it is redemption or not, Lin Chaokun himself can't make it clear. If it is, maybe it should be the sin of his previous life.