C24 I Don't Agree!

"Oh my god." The owners of those two gazes were Xiaomei and another colleague from the magazine company, Qiu Yue. Her eyes widened at the sight of the black Bentley Su Kexin had just stepped out of, clearly stunned. "Xiaomei, didn't you say Su Kexin's husband was pretty average? How does he afford such a nice car?"

Xiaomei's eyes darted around nervously. "Perhaps it's a friend's car? Sister Yue, don't jump to conclusions."

Qiu Yue gave Xiaomei a sidelong glance and scoffed, "A friend? A friend who drops you off at work in the early morning? That's no ordinary friendship."

Qiu Yue and I, Su Kexin, started at the company at the same time, but she couldn't match my performance over the past two years, which undoubtedly left her feeling some resentment.

Meanwhile, Su Kexin made her way into the office building, catching the elevator just before the doors closed. To her surprise, she found herself alone with Gu Yihan.

"Sorry." Su Kexin's first instinct was to back out of the elevator, but Gu Yihan quickly shut the doors.

"What are you avoiding?" Gu Yihan sneered. "We're in the same department. Do you really think you can avoid me?"

Su Kexin bit her lip and fell silent.

Gu Yihan looked down at Su Kexin, noting her pallor and the occasional cough.

A pang went through his heart.

Damn it.

Had he really seen through her, only to find his emotions still swayed by her needs?

"Do you have a cold?" Gu Yihan's voice was cool and detached.

"Yes." Su Kexin kept it brief, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, she hurried out.

Back in his office, Gu Yihan felt a tightness in his chest that he couldn't ignore. Finally, he relented and called his secretary, "Get me some cold medicine."

He held the medicine in his hand for a long while before finally standing up and heading out.

As he walked past the office's pantry, he overheard snippets of conversation from a group of female colleagues —

"Hey, Xiaoyue, are you serious? Su Kexin got dropped off in a black Bentley this morning?"

"Absolutely, it's true. I wasn't the only one who saw it; Xiaomei did too."

"No way, I thought her husband was struggling. How can he afford such a fancy car?"

"Are you kidding? There's no way that car belongs to her husband. Even the diamond ring he gave her was a bargain. My guess? It's definitely some other guy's car..."

"Tsk tsk, exactly. Just look at Su Kexin, she's not the honest type. I've had my suspicions for a while now. She's only been at the magazine for two years, how could she achieve so much? Looks like she might have a powerful supporter."

"And did you catch the bag she was carrying today? It was Chanel. She used to sport Taobao knock-offs, and now suddenly Chanel? It's got to be a gift from that guy!"

Outside the break room, Gu Yihan's grip on his cold medicine tightened involuntarily.

Suddenly, he felt like a fool for buying the medicine. In a swift motion, he tossed the crumpled box into the trash and headed back to his office.

Meanwhile, Su Kexin had just printed out her department transfer request and, with trepidation, approached Gu Yihan's office door.

Indeed, she had resolved to leave the editorial department.

The editorial department was the heart of the Fashion magazine, and she had poured endless effort into securing her place there over the past two years. But now, she couldn't bear working under Gu Yihan any longer and preferred to move to a support department instead.

Gathering her courage, she knocked on the door and was met with Gu Yihan's voice from within.

"Come in."

Entering, Su Kexin found Gu Yihan swiftly reviewing the proofs for the next issue. He glanced up at her arrival, a brow arching inquisitively. "What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to transfer to a different department," Su Kexin stated plainly, extending the application toward him.

Gu Yihan's expression subtly shifted to a darker shade.

"I disagree." He dismissed the application with a flick of his wrist, his face unreadable.

"Why?" Su Kexin's brows knitted together in frustration. "You don't want to see me around, right? If that's the case, why not approve my transfer? It would save us both the trouble, wouldn't it?"

"You don't want to see me?" Gu Yihan let out a cold laugh, leaning back in his chair. "Su Kexin, you've got it all wrong. Do you really think it was just a coincidence that I showed up at the magazine where you work?"

Su Kexin's face drained of color. "What are you implying?"

With a swift motion, Gu Yihan rose to his feet, snatched something from the table, and flung it at Su Kexin's face.

She looked down to find the magazine featuring her interview with Gu Chi. There, on the interview column page, was her own name.

"I specifically came to this magazine after I saw your name," Gu Yihan said deliberately, emphasizing each word as he closed the distance between them. "With you gone, who will I turn to for retribution for the betrayal I suffered two years ago?"

Su Kexin shivered, lifting her gaze to meet Gu Yihan's eyes—dark, deep, and brimming with loathing.

It was then she truly understood—

Gu Yihan's feelings went beyond mere misunderstanding. He despised her.

Biting her lip fiercely to hold back tears, Su Kexin asked softly, "Gu Yihan, what will it take for you to agree to a department transfer?"

"That's the question I've been meaning to ask you," Gu Yihan pressed on, inching closer. "What will make you stay? A raise? That's a generous offer, isn't it? After all, you've always had a fondness for money."

Su Kexin's fingertips quivered uncontrollably, yet Gu Yihan showed no signs of relenting.

"Come on, Su Kexin, how much of a raise will satisfy you?" Gu Yihan's voice escalated with intensity. "Or are you saying that this whole department transfer was just an act, a ploy to get more money out of me? If you really didn't want to see me, why not simply quit?"

Su Kexin was at a loss for words.

She couldn't confess to Gu Yihan that resignation wasn't an option for her, that she had her mother's mounting medical bills to pay every month, that she couldn't afford to lose her job.

"So, I'm right, aren't I?" Gu Yihan's fury was fueled by Su Kexin's silence. "Do you cherish money that much, Su Kexin? Are you truly willing to sell yourself for it? Fine. In light of our past friendship, how about becoming my mistress?"

Su Kexin's body jolted, her eyes lifting to meet Gu Yihan's gaze in sheer disbelief.

"Oh, are my terms tempting you?" Gu Yihan's face twisted with scorn. "Makes sense, doesn't it? You're married, yet you've continued these sordid affairs, haven't you? Instead of being with some repulsive old man, wouldn't you rather be with me? Rest assured, I'm no longer the impoverished kid from school days. Whatever you desire, I can provide."

A wave of revulsion swept over Su Kexin.

She felt so nauseated she could vomit.

She had never imagined that Gu Yihan, whom she once loved deeply, could evoke such a visceral disgust.

"Gu Yihan," she began, her voice sounding distant, as if it were not her own, "rest assured, even if I were after money, I have absolutely no interest in yours."

Without another glance, Su Kexin swiftly exited the office.

It wasn't until she reached the sanctuary of a bathroom stall that she could no longer contain herself. Collapsing onto the toilet seat, tears streamed down her cheeks.

Two years ago... her life had taken a turn since then...

Yet, two years ago, she was undeniably the victim...

In the midst of her breakdown, her phone in her pocket began to ring.

Fighting back tears, Su Kexin saw the caller ID and felt a chill wash over her.

She answered the call, her voice icy, "What do you want?"

"Su Kexin, what's with that tone?" The voice of an irate man, tinged with age, came through the phone.