Reborn to outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight

Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Everything is But a Game of Chess Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Everything is But a Game of Chess “Old Mr. Gong.”

“It was his firm belief in my innocence that led him to organize this press conference for me.”

“Although I have no blood ties with the Gong Family, they have treated me as one of their own and would never harm me.”

“Thank you, I’m very grateful.”

Lin Zhiyi bowed deeply to Old Mr. Gong.

Even if Old Mr. Gong were angry, he had nothing to say but simply smiled and nodded to the people around him.

But it had to be said that this move quickly resolved the Gong Family’s public relations crisis.

The press conference ended.

Lin Zhiyi hurried to catch up with the policewoman, expressing her gratitude, “Thank you, if you hadn’t found the evidence against Zhao Cheng, I would have…”

The policewoman gestured for her colleague to take someone to the car first, then she looked at Lin Zhiyi with difficulty.

“It wasn’t me, it was Third Young Master’s order. He had his people find those girls overnight; we couldn’t get them to come forward against the Zhao Family before.”

“What did you say?” Lin Zhiyi gasped in shock.

“Zhao Cheng’s arrest this time means he cannot escape a sentence, and the Zhao Family can’t protect him this time either.”

The policewoman spoke with profound implications.

Was she suggesting that Third Young Master’s goal was to have Zhao Cheng face multiple charges, rather than just attempted rape?

The policewoman patted her shoulder, “I think you should talk to Third Young Master, there seems to be some misunderstanding between you two.”

By the time Lin Zhiyi came back to her senses, the policewoman had already left.

As she turned around, she saw Gong Chen coming out. She hesitated for a moment, just about to approach when she saw Gong Chen step aside to make way for Old Mr. Gong.

Lin Zhiyi instinctively hid behind the nearby greenery.

Through the leaves, Old Mr. Gong seemed somewhat angry.

Standing amid the light and shadow, Gong Chen silently lit a cigarette; smoke wreathed around him as he half-closed his eyes. His pitch-black pupils were like inscrutable dark ink, with bottomless depths of ruthlessness.

Old Mr. Gong spoke bluntly, “Was this your doing?”

Gong Chen hummed in acknowledgment, exhaling a puff of smoke faintly, “A settlement can only solve temporary issues; I don’t like being threatened. With Lin Zhiyi stirring up trouble, the Zhao Family was in chaos. If I could get something big, why would I settle for something small?”

He lowered his gaze to flick off some ash, the haze making his expression unreadable.

Upon hearing this, Old Mr. Gong nodded his approval.

“You’ve played a good hand, but what about Song Wanqiu…”

“It has nothing to do with her; she won’t be implicated,” Gong Chen said in a low voice.

“You want to protect her, I’ll follow your lead, but as for Lin Zhiyi, this girl dared to play mind games with me, she can’t be left untouched.”

“There’s no need for Dad to be troubled by someone meaningless.”

Gong Chen continued to smoke leisurely, his tone detached and emotionless.

Old Mr. Gong glanced at him, evidently satisfied with his calmness.

“Alright then, I’m leaving.”

“Mm.”

After seeing Old Mr. Gong off, Gong Chen stood with his back to Lin Zhiyi, smoking.

Lin Zhiyi leaned against the wall, covering her mouth. She curled up, her face ashen.

She realized she was still a pawn that Gong Chen could exploit, and he was still protecting Song Wanqiu.

Thinking of the phrase “someone meaningless,” her body shook uncontrollably as she stared blankly at the pale wall.

After an indefinite time, Gong Chen had left.

Lin Zhiyi gathered herself, walking back into the hall step by step.

At this moment, Song Wanqiu seemed to be overcome with grievances, her eyes red as she snuggled into Gong Chen’s embrace.

She even looked at Lin Zhiyi provocatively.

As if to say, no matter what happened, Gong Chen would always protect her.

Lin Zhiyi straightened her back and approached them; she handed a USB drive to Gong Chen.

“Uncle, this contains a conversation between Song Wanqiu and Journalist Chen. I think you’ll find it very interesting.”

Song Wanqiu’s face turned pale. As Gong Chen reached out to take it, she snatched the USB drive, which then accidentally fell to the ground.

Eventually, she carelessly shattered the USB drive with her high heel.

With an apologetic face, she said, “I’m sorry, Third Young Master, I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to get it for you.”

Lin Zhiyi looked at the shattered USB drive and turned to leave.

Whether Gong Chen watched the content or not didn’t matter, what mattered was that Song Wanqiu felt guilty.

Everyone saw it, and that was enough.

As she walked out of the hall, Liu He followed her.

“Are you crazy, giving the evidence to Song Wanqiu?”

“Mom, do you really think the two of us could have protected the evidence?” Lin Zhiyi countered.

“Just now, you could have simply played the audio, then everyone would know Song Wanqiu’s true face.”

“Don’t you plan to live in the Gong Family and with Uncle anymore? Do you think Third Young Master would let us off?”

Liu He had underestimated Gong Chen’s feelings for Song Wanqiu.

She had died in this very love affair in her past life.

Gong Chen even defended Song Wanqiu in front of Old Mr. Gong, so how could he possibly allow them, mother and daughter, to tarnish Song Wanqiu’s image?

They couldn’t afford to provoke Gong Chen.

Liu He sighed deeply, “I don’t know what luck Song Wanqiu has had to catch Lao San’s eye.”

“Mom, I’m leaving.”

Lin Zhiyi didn’t want to listen and headed straight for the front gate.

Outside, the autumn wind was bleak, gusting intermittently, and the coldness seeped into Lin Zhiyi’s clothing, making her thin frame struggle to move forward.

She looked up at the sun, dizziness struck her, and her body collapsed.

Lin Zhiyi was caught from behind and without further ado, was hoisted into a car.

Upon seeing the face of the person in front of her, she struggled to get out of the car.

“Let me go! Get away!”

But the man in front held her with such strength that he easily enveloped her in his arms.

Her back pressed against his chest, the familiar warm breath caused Lin Zhiyi immense shame and desperation, and she bit down on the wrist in front of her.

The man behind her clicked his tongue but showed no intention of letting go.

Lin Zhiyi’s teeth tasted blood, but the arms holding her only grew tighter.

She released her mouth and glared at him from the side.

He hummed lowly from his throat, “No more biting?”

Lin Zhiyi glared angrily at the man in front of her, Gong Chen.

Gong Chen’s dark eyes focused on Lin Zhiyi’s face, her pale skin like cold porcelain, her breath labored, making the trace of blood on her lips all the more enticing.

But in the next second, her eyes turned red with tears, holding back her aggrievement, appearing both shattered and pitiful.

Gong Chen’s gaze deepened, he seized her chin with one hand as his lips forcefully pressed against hers.

Lin Zhiyi paused for a few seconds, then resisted fiercely, even kicking out and leaving several shoe prints on his expensive suit.

But Gong Chen still refused to let her go, kissing her more forcefully, leaving her breathless and gradually sapping her strength.

Almost to the point of allowing him to do as he wished.

Gong Chen pinched the back of her neck and pulled back a bit, his voice hoarse, “Are you angry?”

“Let go… let go…”

Lin Zhiyi clenched her teeth and raised her hand, but Gong Chen grabbed her wrist.

He pulled off his tie and tied up her hands.

“Only like this will you behave.”

“…”

Shame silenced Lin Zhiyi, after struggling a bit, Gong Chen actually grabbed her hand.

He frowned and said with suppressed anger, “Stop moving, or do you not want your hand?”

Lin Zhiyi then realized her hand was in excruciating pain, soon followed by cold sweat.

“My hand… my hand…”

She started to fear, and her consciousness began to blur.

Trembling, it seemed someone held her tight.

“Come here.”