Chapter 129: This Is a Betrayal of Ye Zhen
Ye Group Headquarters.
Seated in her executive chair, Ye Fuli stroked the feathers of her large parrot while staring blankly at a photograph on her computer screen.
The person in the photo was surrounded by a group of girls, with two of them pinching her cheeks.
This person…
More beautiful than Ye Zhen, more cheerful than Ye Zhen, and far more popular than Ye Zhen.
Yet, in the contours of her eyes and brows, there lingered traces of Ye Zhen's likeness.
Ye Fuli lowered her eyes.
Her hand rested on the large parrot's back, no longer stroking its feathers.
The large parrot tilted its head, staring intently at her.
Ye Fuli's heart trembled.
"She's not Ye Zhen. She's not Ye Zhen… She's not…"
Those eyes were identical to the ones etched in Ye Fuli's memory.
Every person's eyes are unique. Even those with similar features never possess exactly the same eyes.
"She's not Ye Zhen. She's not!"
"She's dead."
"Her remains still lie buried in the grave I prepared for her."
"I still go to sit with her often, talk to her!"
"She's dead…"
Ye Fuli's reason and emotion plunged into utter chaos.
Her reason told her this was Ye Zhen—she, who excelled at reading people through their eyes, would never mistake her.
But…
She had sought out countless renowned doctors to treat Ye Zhen's face. Every response she received was the same: complete restoration was impossible, let alone enhancing her beauty.
And…
If this "Ye Zhen" was indeed Ye Zhen, then whose remains were those skeletal remains?
How could the shackles she had custom-made end up with someone else?
Ye Fuli abruptly stood up, violently smashing the decorative bottles and jars on the shelf.
The priceless porcelain shattered into pieces across the floor.
Ye Fuli gasped for breath in ragged heaves.
She even felt that her rational judgment at this moment was a betrayal of Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen was dead. How could she seek traces of Ye Zhen in someone else?
How despicable that would be.
Was this really something Ye Fuli would do?
The loud commotion in the office drew several people to pause and watch. Her assistant pounded anxiously on the door: "Miss Ye? Miss Ye, are you okay? Miss Ye…"
"Get out! All of you! Get out of here!"
Ye Fuli swung a crystal ornament and smashed it hard against the door.
Boom—
The expensive ornament shattered into pieces. Sharp shards flew everywhere, one grazing Ye Fuli's cheek and leaving a small cut. A bead of blood slowly oozed out.
"Get the hell away from me!"
…
After calming down.
Ye Fuli, her face stern, instructed the group's PR department to spend a hefty sum to remove all online posts related to "Ye Zhen."
As for going to Mondstadt to find someone?
Impossible. She wouldn't go.
Ye Fuli wouldn't mistake anyone for Ye Zhen.
But this "Ye Zhen" was truly an eyesore, constantly stirring up her violent impulses.
She feared that if she looked at a few more photos, she might lose control and gouge out the person's eyes.
"No, no, no. I can't do this."
The urge to gouge eyes out surfaced only to be swiftly suppressed by Ye Fuli.
She pictured Ye Zhen cowering in the corner, staring at her with terror in her eyes. She remembered Ye Zhen clutching her arm, pleading silently not to kill He Ying.
Ye Zhen wouldn't want to see her hands stained with blood.
Ye Zhen would hate her.
"I won't act recklessly again, Ye Zhen. Don't hate me!"
As she spoke, her fingernails involuntarily dug deep into her pale arm.
"Don't hate me. I won't… do that again."
Ye Fuli bit her lip tightly.
Her dry eyes stung faintly.
"I'll change. I'll change. I promise I'll change…"
She murmured the words, as if repeating them could soothe the pain in her heart.
"I'll work hard and fulfill every promise I made to you."
"After I finish…"
"Then I can go see you, right?"
…
……
South City.
Mondstadt Academy, School Infirmary.
Jiang Zao lay quietly in her hospital bed, receiving an IV drip.
The allergic reaction had made her already disfigured face even uglier.
In the infirmary, classmates chatted and laughed, all deliberately or unintentionally ignoring her.
"Jiang Zao, you still have one more IV bottle left! It's been so long—don't you need to use the restroom? Isn't anyone accompanying you?"
The nurse adjusted her glasses and looked at Jiang Zao, who was staring blankly at the ceiling.
Jiang Zao quickly pulled her mask up, covering her face completely, terrified anyone might see her disfigured features.
"I don't need to use the restroom. I'm fine."
The teacher sighed and shook her head.
For a girl like this, if she came from a wealthy family, things might be a little better.
Unfortunately, Jiang Zao had nothing.
Her family was poor, and she had no friends.
After her IV drip finished, Jiang Zao walked alone toward the dormitory.
Downstairs at the dorm building, He Ying's new assistant sat waiting for her with a bag full of snacks and fruit.
"Hey, wait a minute."
The assistant called out to Jiang Zao, quickly lifting the two bulging bags.
"Come on, I'll walk you back to the dorm."
Jiang Zao walked ahead, looking gloomy.
At the dorm door, she took out her key and unlocked it.
The others in the room were all reviewing their notes. When they saw Jiang Zao enter, they all turned away in unspoken agreement, ignoring her.
Jiang Zao had long grown accustomed to this treatment.
The assistant glanced around the room, then looked at Jiang Zao's bed.
Everything exuded a cheap, low-quality vibe…
The weather was gradually turning cooler.
Would that flimsy, cheap blanket be enough?
Of course, the dorm had air conditioning, so it probably wouldn't get too cold…
"Would you like me to buy you a thicker blanket?" the assistant suggested. "Miss He said if you have any difficulties with daily living, you can always reach out to her."
Hearing this, one of Jiang Zao's roommates snorted derisively.
Clearly, they had all heard about what happened in the hotel lobby that day.
To them, it was astonishing that someone like Jiang Zao could manage to latch onto a rich, beautiful woman.
What could she possibly have that made others take notice?
Ah, was it just those decent grades?
Or did that rich, beautiful woman have some peculiar taste, favoring such an ugly duckling?
Either way, it was utterly bizarre.
"No, thank you. I have money and can buy it myself," Jiang Zao forced a smile. "Thank you, Miss He."
The assistant sighed softly, nodded, and turned to leave the dorm room.
The dorm quickly fell silent again.
Jiang Zao glanced at the snack bag by her feet, carefully selecting the two most expensive-looking items and setting them aside.
"When Ye Zhen comes back, I'll give her a gift in return—to thank her for the chocolate she gave me earlier."
Thinking of that porcelain doll-like beauty, Jiang Zao felt an endless wave of envy wash over her.
Others could get by on their looks alone, welcomed everywhere they went, while she could only survive by manipulating and deceiving others…
Now, every day was spent on edge, wondering if today would be the day she was exposed, scolded, or even beaten.
"If only I could truly become the person Miss He is looking for."
Jiang Zao lowered her eyes.
She clenched the hem of her dress tightly.
The greed in her heart swelled once more.
"No, I won't just sit here waiting for disaster. I must find out who Miss He is looking for. I have to pretend more convincingly! I have to keep this up longer!"
"I can't lose what I have now…"
"My life, as worthless as mud, won't get a second chance at redemption."