Chapter 72 Begging for Mercy

Guo Dongmei hid outside the door, but heard everything clearly from inside the room.

She resentfully clutched the spot stained by champagne, her lips silently repeating "Quan Jiu" over and over.

Why, why is it that even after dropping out of school, you can still achieve fame and fortune so easily, embarrassing me?

If it weren't for you, I would have remained an invisible nobody, and it wouldn't have mattered if I was ridiculed as ugly. But you just had to meddle, turning me into the laughingstock of the entire school.

Guo Dongmei's eyes, filled with malice, stared into the hall.

Quan Jiu, don't blame me. Blame yourself. You should have been in the abyss like me, trampled by everyone. But why could you climb out? Why could you pursue a wealthy CEO? Why do so many people like you? We're all just ants, so why can you live like a queen? People like you shouldn't exist in this world.

She clenched her fists tightly, but on the surface, her natural smile returned.

Pushing the door open and entering the hall, Guo Dongmei walked to Quan Jiu's side with a smile, raising her wine glass to congratulate her. "Congratulations, Quan Jiu."

Quan Jiu raised her glass and clinked it against hers.

Xie Yao was still in shock. She nudged her cousin, who was eating heartily. "Are you sure, she's really Nine?"

Ren Kui looked helpless. "Cousin, how many times do you need to confirm? I've told you she's the genuine Nine. What else don't you believe?"

Xie Yao opened her mouth, unsure what to say.

It wasn't that she didn't believe; she didn't want to believe.

She had thought she was doing quite well for herself, only to discover that Quan Jiu had changed majors and had already become a leading figure in the industry. Truly, there is no comparison without harm. At this moment, she felt as uncomfortable as if she were being repeatedly fried in hot oil.

At the men's table, everyone had different expressions, though most were full of praise.

"Quan Beauty lives up to her name. Even after dropping out, she's still this capable."

"One script alone is worth tens of millions. We can't earn that much in decades."

"No wonder even Chu Rong is chasing her. Those women are just jealous. They used to say she was being kept, but this is clearly Chu Rong pursuing her and not succeeding yet."

"Sigh... A beauty like that is too far away for someone like us to even dream of."

Liu Jun's expression stiffened as he mechanically ate his food.

Some people were destined to be out of reach.

At the dinner table, perhaps because Nine's identity had been revealed, everyone fell silent. No one brought up work matters anymore.

Zhang Ling was eating absentmindedly when her phone suddenly rang.

Zhang Ling's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively didn't want to answer.

But the phone kept ringing, and with the surrounding quiet, everyone's gaze quickly turned to her.

Zhang Ling had no choice but to answer the call.

"Dad," she called out.

"What have you done? How did you offend the Chu Group? They're trying to acquire my company now, saying it's because you displeased someone. Weren't you at a class reunion today? What happened?"

A roar came from the phone. Because of the quiet atmosphere at the table, the sound was heard by those around them.

Wu Yue, Fan Qiu, and Zhong Hong exchanged glances, immediately recalling a previous incident.

Zhang Ling's face turned deathly pale. After a long while, she stammered, "Dad... the company, it's really gone?"

Zhang Dad roared, "Who exactly did you offend? Forget it, I don't care who you offended. You go and apologize immediately. Even if you have to kneel, you must beg for forgiveness."

Listening to her father's scolding, Zhang Ling looked blankly at Quan Jiu. Quan Jiu was eating leisurely, occasionally saying something to the person next to her, smiling faintly.

Wu Yue, Fan Qiu, and Zhong Hong had also heard all of Zhang Ling's father's words. The three immediately lowered their heads and ate, pretending not to hear anything.

Zhang Ling distractedly put down her phone and numbly said to Wu Yue, Fan Qiu, and Zhong Hong, "Let's go apologize to her."

Wu Yue immediately shook her head. "This has nothing to do with me. I'm not going."

Fan Qiu quickly agreed. "That's right. This is your Zhang family's business, it has nothing to do with me."

Zhang Ling's heart ached with hatred. She glared at Zhong Hong. "You know how you got those two slaps. If you don't go with me, then the Zhong family will be next."

Zhong Hong slammed her chopsticks on the table. "Zhang Ling, solve the mess you created yourself. Don't drag me down with you."

Others looked over at the sound.

Zhong Hong gave Fan Qiu and Wu Yue a look. The three immediately grabbed their bags, bid a hasty farewell to Liu Jun and the others, and left.

Zhang Ling, watching the three flee, was so angry she grabbed a bowl and smashed it.

Wu Yue was hit on the back of her vest, oil stains covering her entire back. She cursed, "Zhang Ling, are you crazy?"

Zhang Ling suddenly stood up and walked in front of Quan Jiu.

She clenched her palms, as if having made a great decision, her voice trembling. "Quan Jiu."

Quan Jiu didn't even turn her head.

Zhang Ling bit her lip. Thinking that her family's company was truly going to be lost, she no longer had any pride. She immediately dropped to her knees with a thud.

"Quan Jiu, I'm sorry. I was blind. Don't be angry. Please spare my family. I beg you."

Quan Jiu smiled faintly. "What heinous act have I committed that you need to kneel and beg me?"

Zhang Ling's nails dug into her flesh, drawing blood.

She took a deep breath, her voice choked with sobs. "I previously offended you with Wu Yue, Fan Qiu, and Zhong Hong. I apologize to you personally. I... I only beg you to ask President Chu not to acquire Yin Que. Without Yin Que, our family will have nothing."

Wu Yue, Fan Qiu, and Zhong Hong, who had been named, immediately retorted, "Quan Jiu, it's not our fault. Zhang Ling used to badmouth you a lot. She was the happiest and most delighted after you dropped out."

"Shut up, both of you! Haven't you also badmouthed her? Zhong Hong, your mouth is so venomous, I'm embarrassed to say the things you cursed." Zhang Ling yelled angrily.

Zhong Hong's face darkened. "You're talking nonsense. I've never gossiped about others behind their backs."

But her swollen and red face looked comical and ridiculous.

Quan Jiu smiled faintly and said slowly, "Your own matters are for you to resolve. They have nothing to do with me."

"Quan Jiu, for the sake of our classmates, please spare my family. I beg you," Zhang Ling pleaded, tears streaming down her face, her makeup smudged into a mess, looking quite terrifying.

But Quan Jiu still smiled faintly. "I can't help you. I haven't done anything to you, and I'm not familiar with the President Chu you mentioned."

After speaking, Quan Jiu put down her chopsticks and said to the others, "Please continue eating. I'm going to leave now."

"I'll see you out," Guo Dongmei quickly stood up to follow.

Quan Jiu glanced at Guo Dongmei with a smile.

Guo Dongmei's heart panicked, and she instinctively tightened her hand. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Let's go," Quan Jiu left her seat.

Zhang Ling realized her lifeline was slipping away. No longer caring about her dignity, she hugged Quan Jiu's leg and cried, "Quan Jiu, I was wrong. I shouldn't have badmouthed you. I shouldn't have targeted you at every turn. Please forgive me. I beg you."

"I haven't done anything to you or your family. You're begging the wrong person," Quan Jiu said indifferently, leaving the hall.