Zhai Mo was forcibly held by Yao Zuizui and slept with her for the night.
Yao Zuizui kept murmuring “Xiao Hong” in her sleep, even drunkenly trying to kiss Zhai Mo with her eyes closed.
She looked like a pig trying to dig up cabbage.
This made Zhai Mo tremble with rage, and he swore never to step into that useless woman’s room again.
He’d rather find another way to kill her than endure such humiliation.
The next day, Yao Zuizui acted as if nothing had happened, smiling at Zhai Mo and saying, “I dreamed of a beautiful woman last night—held her all night, so comfortable!”
Seeing Zhai Mo’s constipated expression, Yao Zuizui secretly reveled in satisfaction.
A few days later, it was Zhai Mo’s birthday.
Yao Zuizui specially bought him a huge cake and even informed the company employees in advance.
She abused her authority once again.
“As the general manager, it’s my duty to care for every colleague. So, I’ve decided to throw Zhai Mo a birthday party!” Yao Zuizui announced, moving the employees to tears.
“Director Zhai is so kind!”
“Director Zhai treats employees unbelievably well!”
“My birthday is coming up too—next week,” one employee said, only to be elbowed sharply by a coworker.
Who are you? Just a regular employee.
Who is Zhai Mo? The one who has Director Zhai under her thumb.
Are you the same? How shameless.
Yao Zuizui watched the commotion with an amused smirk, eagerly anticipating the party—it was her chance to take their relationship to the next level.
But when Zhai Mo entered the office, the lights turned on, revealing a massive birthday cake with twenty-seven candles in the center.
Colleagues smiled and cheered, “Happy birthday!”
Yao Zuizui stood among them, the candlelight reflecting in her bright eyes.
Zhai Mo’s face darkened. He turned and walked out, snapping, “I don’t celebrate birthdays.”
Panicked, Yao Zuizui grabbed her keys and chased after him.
The employees exchanged bewildered glances.
A lovers’ quarrel?
Hope Director Zhai can coax him back soon.
If not, just break up. With so many pretty girls in the company, is Zhai Mo really irreplaceable?
“Let’s eat the cake!” Since they weren’t coming back, the employees rolled up their sleeves and dug in.
“Brother! Where are you going?” Yao Zuizui quickly caught up to Zhai Mo, who was storming away.
Ignoring her, she blocked his path with her car.
“Get in,” she ordered, using her managerial authority.
“I’m going to the cemetery. Coming?” Zhai Mo sneered.
Yao Zuizui froze. “Yes!”
She hurriedly opened the door, letting him in, but inwardly cursed—today was the anniversary of Zhai Mo’s mother’s death.
How could the original Zhai Zuozuo not know?
Then again, Zhai Zuozuo’s memories contained almost nothing about Zhai Mo’s mother.
“…Brother, don’t be too sad. I’m here with you,” Yao Zuizui offered awkwardly in the heavy silence.
“Hah, why would I be sad? She abandoned me,” Zhai Mo scoffed. “Visiting her grave is already more than she deserves.”
His words were forced.
No matter how casually he acted, the resentment of abandonment seeped through.
A light rain tapped against the windows like a melancholic serenade.
In that moment, Zhai Mo’s usually unshakable heart felt fragile.
“She killed herself,” he said, his mocking smile deepening. “Chose my birthday to do it—left me no note. Was it deliberate, or did she just forget my birthday?”
How much must a mother dislike her son to forget his birthday?
“I think she just didn’t care,” Yao Zuizui said bluntly. “Her suicide had nothing to do with you.”
Zhai Mo stiffened, then laughed coldly. “Straight to the point. I knew she didn’t care. From the moment I could remember, she never held me, never showed affection—never even looked at me properly.”
Yao Zuizui feigned sympathy.
“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t care about her either!” His forced indifference only betrayed his pain.
Finally, Yao Zuizui understood why Zhai Mo envied Zhai Zuozuo so much.
What Zhai Zuozuo had—what he craved most—was the one thing he’d never had: a mother’s love.
“Brother, you still have me,” Yao Zuizui said earnestly.
With me, you’re not alone.
Zhai Mo ignored her, dismissing her words entirely.
He stepped out with an umbrella, heading to the gravesite alone.
Yao Zuizui waited outside. Some sorrows were meant to be private.
This version of Suhei seemed pitiable—best not to intrude.
In the divine realm, she had always been cold.
To her, measured selfishness and calculated indifference were necessities.
When Zhai Mo returned, he was drenched.
Water dripped from his hair onto the seat, unnoticed by either of them.
Yao Zuizui tossed him a towel as the wipers swished rhythmically.
The headlights cast a dim glow on the dark road ahead.
“Brother, have you heard this saying? ‘The so-called abyss—when you jump, it’s also a path forward.’” Her tone was detached.
Zhai Mo seemed struck. For the first time, he glanced at her.
Then, wiping his hair, he murmured, “I’ve heard it.”
But he wouldn’t jump into the abyss alone.
If he fell, he’d drag someone with him.
The path forward? He’d walk that alone.
——————
Despite the birthday incident, Zhai Mo’s attitude toward Yao Zuizui remained unchanged.
His determination to kill her hadn’t lessened.
He procured colorless, odorless chemicals—undetectable, lethal over time.
A month of consumption, then fatal poisoning. By then, evidence would be untraceable.
A month’s worth of food—who could investigate it all?
Even if they tried, he’d have destroyed every clue.
To sell the act, he bought Zhai Zuozuo’s favorite milk tea.
She often raved about it, how people queued for hours to get it.
If it was her beloved drink, she might let her guard down.
Sure enough, when he handed her the tea, Yao Zuizui’s eyes lit up.
Brighter than when she looked at him.
“Brother! How did you know I love this?” She cradled the cup like treasure.
“…” You never shut up about it. Her memory was terrible.
Yao Zuizui eagerly stabbed the straw in and took a sip.
Holding the tea, she grinned at him.
Her eyes shone—like a beam of light in Zhai Mo’s bleak world.
Author’s Note:
Still giving out red envelopes!~
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage