Chapter Twenty: Darling, I’m Out of Money

At this moment, Yu Xiaoxiao was not feeling very well. In her twenty-one years of life, she had never felt such pressure. Beads of fragrant sweat dotted her smooth forehead, and the usually perky low ponytail she wore now hung limply, devoid of its usual vitality.

The reason for Yu Xiaoxiao’s discomfort lay entirely with the woman standing before her. Though the woman wore only a simple, unadorned office suit, she had drawn the gaze of everyone in the grand lobby on the first floor of Menghua Tower.

Yes, this woman was breathtakingly beautiful. Her face was a perfect oval, her clear, radiant eyes gleamed like rippling glass, her slender brows arched gracefully, and her long lashes trembled ever so slightly. Her flawless, fair skin glowed with a faint rosy flush, and her lips, delicate as rose petals, seemed moist and inviting. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, draping elegantly over her subtly tapered shoulders.

Her figure matched her beauty—first class in every respect. Though her attire was plain, it accentuated a flawless S-shaped silhouette, lending her an air of noble elegance. Her long legs, encased in black stockings, were straight and slender, radiating an irresistible allure.

At this moment, her exquisite features bore only the lightest touch of makeup, yet that alone was enough to captivate and enthrall.

But what truly set her apart was her aura.

Unlike Qin Mengxue’s icy, distant elegance, or Yu Xiaoxiao’s lively, youthful vigor, this woman exuded a refined grace that seemed innate—something not easily imitated. It was as if the gods themselves had crafted her, a star shining brilliantly amidst the crowd.

All eyes in the lobby were drawn to her. The men stared, faces awash with awe and longing, their gazes fixed hungrily upon her, as if wishing to strip away every barrier between themselves and her beauty. The women, meanwhile, looked on with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Upon seeing her, every employee of Menghua couldn’t help but think of another striking figure: their own CEO, Qin Mengxue. In terms of looks and bearing, perhaps only Qin Mengxue could rival the woman now before them.

Yet, unfazed by the varied stares around her, the woman seemed accustomed to such attention. She looked at Yu Xiaoxiao with a touch of coldness and a hint of displeasure in her tone: “Is this how Menghua Group receives guests? Am I to wait here in the lobby rather than be shown to the reception room?”

Her words carried an oppressive weight, making Yu Xiaoxiao feel short of breath. Nevertheless, she mustered her courage and replied, “President Ye, the situation is this: President Qin has yet to arrive, and both President Su and President Gan seem to be held up by other matters. I’m afraid we can only offer our apologies for making you wait here. Please forgive us.”

In Beiyang City, there was the ‘business rose’ Qin Mengxue, and the ‘business lily’ Ye Hairuo. The woman Yu Xiaoxiao addressed as President Ye, given her beauty and bearing, could only be none other than Ye Hairuo, the female CEO of Tianming Group.

Ye Hairuo frowned slightly at Yu Xiaoxiao’s explanation. She, the dignified CEO of Tianming, had been left waiting in Menghua Group's lobby for over an hour, with not a single responsible party in sight.

Not only had the CEO, Qin Mengxue, failed to appear, but even Gan Bingning, the director of public relations, and Su Jiaqi, the head of investments, were nowhere to be found. The famed three leading ladies of Menghua Group were all absent, leaving only a secretary to receive her. How could anyone feel satisfied with such treatment?

Though Ye Hairuo’s expression remained impassive, a trace of irritation flickered in her heart. “What is going on at Menghua Group? Is this the attitude you have toward your work?”

Yu Xiaoxiao was on the verge of tears at being questioned so sternly. She herself was utterly confused. After two consecutive days off, President Qin had simply not shown up today. When she contacted President Su, she learned Su’s car had broken down—seriously, it seemed—so she wouldn’t arrive until the afternoon. Reaching President Gan was impossible; her phone was switched off. So all three of Menghua’s leading ladies were absent, and at the worst possible moment, their long-standing rival, Ye Hairuo, had come knocking.

And so, this poor little secretary was left to bear the brunt of Ye Hairuo’s pressure alone. “President Ye, may I call our CEO for you? Please wait just a moment.” Eager to escape Ye Hairuo’s chilling gaze, Yu Xiaoxiao offered this excuse and quickly made the call, praying fervently that President Qin would answer. She knew she simply couldn’t handle this formidable guest on her own.

After a brief wait, the call was answered, and Yu Xiaoxiao’s heart leapt with relief, as if she had grabbed a lifeline. In her mind, Qin Mengxue could handle Ye Hairuo without effort.

“Hello, Xiaoxiao? I’ll be late today, don’t worry,” came the familiar voice. The reassurance calmed Yu Xiaoxiao somewhat, though she couldn’t help but notice something odd in her boss’s tone.

She didn’t dwell on it, hurrying to explain, “President Qin, here’s the situation: President Su’s car broke down and she’ll be delayed until the afternoon, and I can’t reach President Gan. But now President Ye from Tianming Group has arrived and wants to discuss business, and there’s no one here to receive her…”

“What? I’ll be there immediately!” The response from the other end was urgent, and the call was abruptly cut off.

Yu Xiaoxiao quickly relayed Qin Mengxue’s words to Ye Hairuo. “President Ye, President Qin is stuck in traffic and will be a while longer. Please be patient.”

Ye Hairuo sighed in resignation, her frown easing slightly. “Can you take me to the reception room upstairs now?”

At that very moment, as Qin Mengxue sped toward Menghua Tower and Yu Xiaoxiao escorted Ye Hairuo upstairs, Gan Bingning groggily opened her eyes.

A sharp ache wracked her body, as if her bones had been crushed and reassembled. An especially fierce pain burned between her legs. With the discomfort came a splitting headache, as if her skull were being torn apart. Gan Bingning had no choice but to collapse back onto the bed, eyes shut tight, struggling to endure this unfamiliar pain. Only once some strength returned to her limbs did she manage to prop herself up against the headboard and take stock of her surroundings.

She found herself in a large, lavishly decorated room, but it was utterly unfamiliar: unknown crystal lamps, a heart-shaped crystal bed, an unfamiliar setting—everything was strange.

Gan Bingning pressed her aching temples, trying to recall what had happened the previous night. She remembered feeling upset and going out for drinks, being targeted by three thugs, and then being rescued by a man who had appeared out of nowhere. That man was skilled, and not too bad-looking either—he dispatched the thugs effortlessly.

Then, he held her in his arms…

Suddenly, a memory jolted her heart. She hastily threw back the covers and her eyes landed on a vivid red blossom blooming on the pristine white sheets.

For a moment, Gan Bingning’s mind went completely blank. She stared in stupefied silence at the crimson mark, and, at last, the events of the previous night returned to her in full.

She remembered being drugged by the three thugs and, in her delirium, pushing herself onto the man who had saved her... not just once, but multiple times. Most astonishingly, the man, despite his strength, hadn’t resisted at all.

She gave a bitter laugh. She had practically thrown herself at him—how could he refuse? In the end, she could only blame herself.

She sat in a daze for a long time. Eventually, she snapped out of it, running a frustrated hand through her hair. After years of guarding her virtue, she had finally lost it—to a stranger, no less.

Suddenly, a glint caught her eye—a few banknotes placed on the bedside table. She froze, her expression darkening. “Does that bastard think I’m some kind of escort? Leaving money behind like this?”

Ignoring the pain in her body, Gan Bingning grabbed a