Chapter 49: Managing the Female CEO

"For all these years, he has always kept you in his heart."

Yang Xuemi continued to advise her earnestly, hoping she would change her mind.

"Even if you don't like him, he is your fiancé after all."

"Most importantly, he is able to accept the existence of Little Taozi. He has done enough for you, so you should still give him an appropriate response."

Yang Xuemi sat down, took her daughter's hand, and intended to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.

She was well aware of her daughter's rebellious nature; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to all lengths to give birth to Little Taozi back then.

"Mom, do you really think Zhang Zihao is a good guy?"

Chu Menghao sneered, her face filled with anger and disdain. "That despicable and shameless villain actually bribed my classmates to drug me back then just to get to me.

I will remember this for the rest of my life!"

Yang Xuemi widened her eyes in astonishment. "How can you still remember something like that?

Besides, you don't have any evidence, Mengyao."

Chu Mengyao had mentioned this to her before, but Yang Xuemi hadn't taken it to heart.

She felt that her daughter might have just been making up an excuse because she disliked Zhang Zihao.

Even after all these years, she still held onto this grudge and could not let it go.

Chu Mengyao sneered again. That despicable and shameless villain had bribed her classmates to drug her back then simply to possess her.

Chu Mengyao had remembered this matter for her entire life.

Although there was no concrete proof, Chu Mengyao was certain that Zhang Zihao was the one who did it.

He put on the airs of a refined gentleman in front of her family, but in reality, he was nothing more than a hypocritical pretender.

She had told her grandfather about this back then, but with only verbal claims and no proof, no one believed that Zhang Zihao would ever do such a thing!

Because of this, she was even severely reprimanded by her grandfather.

The Chu and Zhang families had been on good terms for decades, and they could never fall out over a baseless accusation.

Chu Mengyao was distressed by the lack of evidence; otherwise, she would have had to obediently submit to the arranged marriage.

Yet she remained defiant in her heart—since Zhang Zihao wanted to have her so badly, she would make sure things didn't go his way.

"Tomorrow, you'll find out what kind of person Zhang Zihao really is!"

In her heart, Chu Mengyao relied on Zhao Qiang as her trump card. As long as he showed up to cause a scene, the engagement banquet would undoubtedly be ruined.

"Forget it, even if I tell you, you won't believe me anyway."

Chu Mengyao shook her head helplessly. She had failed to find any evidence, and those classmates she used to drink with had long since gone their separate ways.

Yang Xuemi sighed. "Mengyao, Mom doesn't want to wrong you either, but you must understand the stakes involved."

A family alliance, coupled with a childhood engagement.

Even though Chu Mengyao had a child, Zhang Zihao still accepted her.

The Chu family simply could not break the engagement; once broken, they would become the target of public condemnation.

Chu Mengyao turned her face away. "Anyway, I am never going to marry him."

Yang Xuemi said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Little Taozi, come with Grandma to get something yummy."

Little Taozi clapped her hands and cheered, "Yay! Yay!"

Chu Mengyao felt it necessary to emphasize the importance of tomorrow to Zhao Qiang and ensure he would show up.

"Hello, Eldest Miss Chu, is there something you need?"

On the other end of the line, Zhao Qiang's voice sounded nonchalant.

"Zhao Qiang, I heard all your matters have been resolved.

Congratulations on finally breaking free from Liu Ruyan's family."

Chu Mengyao said polite pleasantries while secretly plotting how to make Zhao Qiang obediently follow her instructions.

"As for tomorrow, remember to arrive on time!"

Chu Mengyao urged him eagerly, a trace of anxiety leaking through her voice, terrified that Zhao Qiang might forget about it.

"Arrive?

Arrive where?

What are you talking about, Eldest Miss Chu?"

Zhao Qiang feigned ignorance, smiling inwardly as he wanted to see just how desperate Chu Mengyao could get.

To actually go out of her way to make a phone call—it seemed this matter was of utmost importance to her.

"Why can't I understand a single word you're saying?"

Zhao Qiang sneered to himself. So this woman was calling to remind him about the engagement banquet.

She wouldn't even let Little Taozi see her own parents, so why on earth should he help Chu Mengyao deal with Zhang Zihao?

Although Zhang Zihao was his enemy, it wasn't strictly necessary to confront him at the engagement banquet.

Once he completely tore away the facade with Zhang Zihao, all the hostility would be directed squarely at him.

And what about Chu Mengyao? She wouldn't have done a thing, acting like the snipe and the clam fighting while the fisherman reaps the benefit.

Zhao Qiang wasn't stupid; he wouldn't do such thankless hard work for nothing.

Therefore, the best approach was to play dumb. He wasn't in a hurry; the anxious one was Chu Mengyao.

"Our collaboration, of course!"

Chu Mengyao knitted her brows tightly, her voice rising a notch.

"Or did you forget?"

Chu Mengyao's face instantly filled with displeasure, and she even suspected that Zhao Qiang was deliberately playing dumb.

"I'm sorry, Eldest Miss Chu, but I thought about it carefully afterward," Zhao Qiang said unhurriedly.

"Our collaboration doesn't seem to have any benefits for me at all!"

"So..." The corners of Zhao Qiang's lips curled up, revealing a hint of a wicked smile in his eyes.

He never engaged in losing business, so without some tangible benefits, nobody need expect him to risk his life.

Was Chu Mengyao his wife?

Not at all, so why should he help a completely unrelated woman act as a human shield?

"So what?

Zhao Qiang, don't you dare go back on your word!"

Chu Mengyao abruptly stood up, her hands trembling with anger as a bad premonition washed over her.

She had never been manipulated like this before. Zhao Qiang was clearly trying to extort her on the spot, yet she had no way to refuse.

Clenching her fists involuntarily, Chu Mengyao said anxiously, "As long as you help me ruin the engagement banquet, the rewards will be more than enough for you!"

"Eldest Miss Chu, don't get so excited just yet."

Zhao Qiang said leisurely, "Don't feed me empty promises. I don't want to experience being strung along with grand illusions again.

You need to tell me specifically what benefits I can get, otherwise, I won't feel secure about this."

Pardon him, but Zhao Qiang was just that realistic right now.

He wouldn't do anything that offered him no personal gain.

Chu Mengyao bit her lip and said, "Once it's done, I can give you a generous financial reward, enough for you to live a wealthy life.

Will that do!"

Inwardly, she cursed Zhao Qiang as a bad man; he hadn't brought up so many demands before.

The Chu family was wealthy, but he didn't need money—money couldn't buy what he truly wanted.

Zhao Qiang sneered. "Money?

Eldest Miss Chu, do you think I'm short of money right now?"

Chu Mengyao's face flushed red with anger, rendering her temporarily speechless. "Then what on earth do you want?

Don't push your luck!"

"Eldest Miss Chu, those conditions are still not attractive enough to me.

Unless..."

"Unless what?" Chu Mengyao eagerly pressed for an answer.

"Unless you agree to let Little Taozi meet me often, and stop blocking me from cultivating a father-daughter bond with her," Zhao Qiang said firmly.

Chu Mengyao hesitated. Allowing Zhao Qiang to have excessive contact with Little Taozi was something she felt somewhat reluctant to do.

Yet with the engagement banquet looming right in front of her, she had no choice but to appease Zhao Qiang first.

"Fine, I promise you.

But you must keep your word and appear at the engagement banquet on time tomorrow to blow everything apart!"

Chu Mengyao practically roared those words out, her chest heaving violently, clearly driven to fury.