Chapter 2 - Chapter 2：Consumed by Jealousy

Chapter 2: Consumed by JealousyThe assistant extended her slender, porcelain-white fingers and gently pressed the button embedded in the wall. In an instant, a faint "click" sound of mechanical operation could be heard. The thick door of the conference hall, like a giant that had just slowly awakened after a long slumber, slid open gradually, emitting a low "buzzing" sound. Cheng Ruo stood upright, resembling a plum blossom proudly blooming in the white snow, cold and resilient. She slightly raised her chin, her gaze as sharp as a torch. In an instant, her eyes met directly with that face that had been searing in the depths of her memory and that she hated with every fiber of her being. Chu Yi was snuggling closely against Jiang Yuzhi's arm like a delicate little bird. She was wearing a perfectly tailored Chanel suit. The intricate and exquisite embroidery on the suit sparkled with a subtle luster under the brilliant lights, just right to outline her slender waist that could be encircled with one hand. Her meticulously styled curly hair cascaded down her shoulders like gentle waves, and every strand seemed to have been carefully crafted. Her makeup was flawless. Her delicate, glistening red lips curved slightly upward, revealing a sweet smile. Her charming appearance made it seem as if all the happiness and beauty in the world had converged on her alone. The two of them were immersed in a sweet conversation, chatting and laughing merrily. Then, inadvertently turning their heads, their gazes landed on Cheng Ruo at the door without warning. Jiang Yuzhi keenly sensed something was amiss and subconsciously raised his eyes. In an instant, a perfectly timed professional smile appeared on his face. That smile was gentle and full of affinity, as if it could dispel all the darkness in the world. He slightly turned his body to the side, with an elegant and gentlemanly posture, and faced the crowd. His voice was deep and magnetic, like mellow wine flowing gently in the air: "You must be Miss Cheng, right? We've all been waiting for you. Come on, let me introduce you to everyone. This is the current Chief Financial Officer of our group. I'm sure all of you have heard of the financial miracle of shorting one billion US dollars in the stock market overnight last year. Miss Cheng was involved in that incident."His words were like a stone forcefully thrown into a calm lake. In an instant, the originally quiet conference room erupted with exclamations and sounds of admiration. The crowd's eyes were drawn to Cheng Ruo like iron filings to a magnet. In those pairs of eyes, there was both admiration for her outstanding abilities and a hint of curiosity about this mysterious figure, as if they were sizing up a legendary figure who had descended from a distant and mysterious world.However, in this extremely enthusiastic atmosphere, Chu Yi was like a flower that was out of place. She slightly raised her chin, and the white and graceful line of her neck now looked particularly glaring because of her haughty posture. A fleeting and barely noticeable look of disdain flashed through her eyes, and that expression seemed to be silently proclaiming: This so-called financial prodigy in front of me is nothing more than a clown who can't make it to the big stage. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, pulling out a faint sneer. Her voice was clear but carried a bit of sharpness: "You're really capable at such a young age, Miss Cheng. You must have some remarkable skills." She deliberately emphasized the words "capable" very heavily. Her tone was like a sharp, glistening knife. On the surface, it seemed like praise, but upon careful consideration, it was laden with deep sarcasm. Upon hearing these words, Cheng Ruo snorted coldly in her heart, like a cold wind howling through a cold night. But on her face, she still wore a warm and charming smile as if bathed in the spring breeze. That smile was like the warm sun in spring, so beautiful that one almost forgot the raging fire of hatred hidden deep in her heart. She parted her red lips slightly, and her voice was soft but carried hidden strength: "You're just joking, Miss Chu. No matter how capable I am, I can't compare to you. You come from a prominent family and have married a good husband. You're truly the real winner in life." Her words were like a needle hidden in cotton. On the surface, it was sincere praise for Chu Yi, but the fleeting cold glint in the depths of her eyes truthfully revealed her true thoughts. However, Chu Yi seemed to be blinded and didn't notice the irony in Cheng Ruo's words at all. She was completely immersed in her own world, so carried away by her pride that she was at the peak of arrogance. Her voice became even louder and more haughty: "That's right. Some people, no matter how hard they try, can't get rid of that shabby air about them." As she spoke, she deliberately raised her hand high and gently stroked the designer bag in her hand. It was the latest limited-edition Hermès Birkin bag in the world. The top-grade cowhide leather of the bag exuded a luxurious luster, and the metal accessories on it sparkled brightly under the bright lights, as if proclaiming its nobility and uniqueness to the world. Her action was like a silent but extremely powerful declaration, wantonly flaunting her wealth and superior status to everyone present. Cheng Ruo's gaze was as sharp as a hawk, precisely landing on the bag in Chu Yi's hand. A trace of complex and indistinguishable emotion flashed through her eyes in an instant, including disdain for Chu Yi's such ostentatious display, and sentimentality towards the bullied days in the past. But this trace of emotion flashed by quickly, and then she returned to her calm and composed appearance. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a just-right smile, and her voice was as gentle as the spring breeze: "Miss Chu is really powerful. You've already got your hands on the latest global limited-edition so quickly." Her voice was soft, as if she was sharing a warm and beautiful secret with Chu Yi. Chu Yi raised her head proudly, her nostrils flaring slightly. Her extremely arrogant appearance made people feel disgusted at first sight. Her voice became even more shrill, carrying a bit of an overbearing tone: "Of course. You don't need to tell me that. This is nothing to me. How much do I contribute to their brand's exclusive store every year?" As she spoke, she gently stroked the edge of the bag with her hand, her movements gentle and full of affection, as if she was caressing a priceless treasure that was invaluable and irreplaceable. Jiang Yuzhi stood by and took all this in. Seeing that Chu Yi had started her old habit of being jealous and competitive again, he couldn't help but groan inwardly. He knew very well about Chu Yi's spoiled and willful temper. If he let her act so recklessly, the situation might become chaotic and difficult to control. So, he quickly took a step forward, still wearing that gentle and composed smile on his face, trying to act as a peacemaker in this dispute: "It seems that Miss Cheng and my wife are having a great conversation. Coincidentally, Xiaoyi's birthday is next week. Miss Cheng can come and join us then, and also get used to the domestic life in advance." His words were like a timely rain, trying to quell the impending storm in this tense atmosphere. After hearing this, a trace of imperceptible light flashed through Cheng Ruo's eyes. That light carried a hint of anticipation and a bit of cunning, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky. She looked at Chu Yi's bag with great interest, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a meaningful smile, as if that smile held countless secrets that no one knew: "Thank you, Mr. Jiang and Miss Chu, for the invitation. I will definitely be there on time." Her voice was firm and resolute, as if declaring to Chu Yi that a silent but thrilling war was about to officially begin. Chu Yi still had that overbearing and arrogant look. She reached out and picked up the sunglasses on the table beside her. The lenses of the sunglasses reflected a cold and piercing light under the lights, making it impossible to see her eyes clearly. She turned around and walked out of the conference room with a "clatter, clatter, clatter" sound of her high heels hitting the ground. The crisp sound of the high heels knocking on the floor was like the beating drumbeat of her arrogant emotions in her heart. Everyone present looked at her departing back and was slightly taken aback for a moment, as if startled by her sudden action. But soon they all came to their senses and turned their attention back to the meeting, and the meeting continued. In the conference room, the lights were still as bright as day, illuminating the entire space clearly. Everyone engaged in a heated discussion around various matters of the company, and the voices of speeches and arguments intertwined. However, Cheng Ruo seemed to be standing outside all this, and her thoughts had already drifted back to those dark days when she was bullied by Chu Yi. She remembered being pushed to the ground by Chu Yi, the rough ground scraping her cheeks, and the shocking bloodstains; remembered her painstakingly organized books being casually thrown into the trash by Chu Yi, those books that embodied the crystallization of knowledge looking so helpless and pitiful among the garbage; remembered enduring the double pain and humiliation of body and mind alone amidst the ridicule and pointing fingers of others, and that sense of loneliness and despair was still unforgettable. These memories were like sharp knives, deeply piercing her heart, but at the same time, they were also like a powerful force, continuously fueling the raging fire of revenge burning deep in her heart. She slowly turned her head and swept her gaze over everyone in the conference room one by one, and her eyes gradually became as firm as a rock. She knew very well that her long and arduous path of revenge had just taken the first step. Chu Yi, the woman who had brought her countless pains and injuries, now appeared in front of her again with a haughty and overbearing posture. But there was no trace of fear in Cheng Ruo's heart, and she would never back down even a little bit. She secretly swore in her heart that she must use her wisdom and strength to make Chu Yi pay the most painful price for what she had done in the past. In this rich and complex world constructed in the novel, the female protagonist often doesn't exist just for the sake of simple revenge. In this process full of thorns and challenges, they will also vividly demonstrate their growth, unwavering perseverance, and extraordinary wisdom. Cheng Ruo was no exception. She was very clear that what she was facing was not just Chu Yi as an isolated individual, but the intricate and deeply rooted web of power behind the entire Chu Group. But she was full of faith in her heart, firmly believing that as long as she persevered in her efforts, she would definitely be able to break through this thick layer of darkness and welcome her own light with her own strength. And Chu Yi, this spoiled rich lady since childhood, had long been used to living in the midst of everyone's adoration and flattery, like a proud peacock. She had never imagined what terrifying consequences her usual arrogance and rudeness would bring to her one day. She was still immersed in her illusory world of happiness, indulging in a life of luxury every day, unaware that a storm that could completely drown her was quietly approaching in the darkness. As the meeting continued in an orderly manner, on the surface, Cheng Ruo listened carefully to everyone's speeches and occasionally took notes in her notebook. Her focused appearance made it seem as if she was completely immersed in the meeting. But in fact, her mind was racing, planning her next move. She knew very well that Chu Yi's birthday party would be an excellent opportunity, an opportunity for her to gain a deeper understanding of the internal situation of the Chu Group and at the same time make Chu Yi pay for her arrogance and suffer a bitter lesson. She secretly swore in her heart that she must carefully plan and implement a plan at this party to give Chu Yi a "surprise" that she would never forget for the rest of her life. In this world full of desires, power struggles, and love-hate relationships, Cheng Ruo and Chu Yi, these two women with vastly different personalities, were like two shooting stars in the vast universe that were about to collide violently. Their destinies had already been intertwined in the dark.