Naughty Puppy Will Be Eaten by a Bad Woman - Chapter 11

Seeing that Gu Xianyue didn’t object, Lu Zhao gently slipped her arm behind Gu Xianyue’s back, intending to help her sit up.

To Lu Zhao’s surprise, Gu Xianyue cooperated, and her body responded remarkably well. Carefully adjusting her balance, Lu Zhao successfully helped Gu Xianyue sit up.

Though Gu Xianyue’s consciousness was hazy, she still cooperated, placing virtually no extra strain on Lu Zhao’s legs.

With cautious steps, Lu Zhao moved Gu Xianyue to the bed, pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, and meticulously tucked in the corners.

She paused to gaze at Gu Xianyue for a moment. Even lying down, Gu Xianyue’s face remained flawlessly beautiful and captivating.

Lu Zhao had to admit that, despite having interviewed countless people throughout her career as a journalist, Gu Xianyue was the most breathtakingly stunning person she had ever encountered.

Then… Lu Zhao noticed that Gu Xianyue’s makeup was still perfectly intact.

“Gu Xianyue, where are your makeup removal products?” Lu Zhao crouched down and whispered near Gu Xianyue’s ear.

Since Gu Xianyue wanted to be friends, Lu Zhao couldn’t just stand by and watch her sleep with makeup on, risking skin damage.

Gu Xianyue vaguely heard someone calling her name, her ear tickling. Still groggy, she waved her hand in a random direction and turned her face away.

Lu Zhao followed the gesture, her gaze landing on the vanity table.

She rummaged through the array of high-end skincare products and found a matching set of premium makeup remover balm and oil.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Zhao washed her hands, grabbed the makeup remover oil, cotton pads, and wet wipes.

This was the first time she had ever taken such meticulous care of someone else. She gently wiped away Gu Xianyue’s makeup with oil-soaked cotton pads, starting with her eyes.

With her narrow, fox-like eyes closed, Gu Xianyue’s usual seductive allure softened into a tender vulnerability.

Once the makeup was removed, Lu Zhao couldn’t help but linger for a few more glances.

Gu Xianyue’s skin was flawless, clearly well-maintained. The makeup had merely enhanced her natural radiance.

But Lu Zhao had to leave.

Before departing, she took one last look around Gu Xianyue’s room.

The room was vast, its spaciousness amplified by the floor-to-ceiling windows. The desolate night gradually seeped in, illuminating a framed photograph on the desk.

Seeing the frame, Lu Zhao remembered Gu Xianyue’s promise to show her pictures of Little Dog. But before she could see them, Gu Xianyue had drunk herself into a stupor.

Lu Zhao peered closer. The frame held an old, slightly yellowed photograph: a young girl affectionately hugging a small white dog, her laughter pure and joyful.

The girl’s features bore a striking resemblance to Gu Xianyue, unmistakably showing her as a child.

Her eyes tilted upward, her round face still plump with baby fat. When she smiled, her eyes narrowed into crescents, utterly charming, yet already hinting at a nascent air of pride. Beside her, the white poodle’s glossy, thick fur spoke of meticulous care.

Drawn by some inexplicable force, Lu Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on the photograph.

What truly captivated her was the collar around the dog’s neck—identical to the one she wore. Her heart began to pound, not from panic, but from an overwhelming emotion that brought tears to her eyes.

Obeying her instincts, she took a photo with her phone.

Lu Zhao silently vowed never to drink so much at someone else’s house again.

Before leaving, she took a scarf from her bag, wrapped it around her neck, and concealed the collar.

She didn’t want others to see it, but she wasn’t ready to take it off yet.

The collar seemed to have become a secret link between her and Gu Xianyue, connecting to the hidden pulse in her chest.

After leaving the residential area, Lu Zhao hailed a ride.

The cold wind howled, half-sobering her up. She tightened her coat around herself.

The residential area was far from the city center, eerily quiet and desolate in the biting wind. As she waited for her ride, she felt utterly alone in the vast, empty landscape.

This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. In fact, she often felt this way even in crowds.

She didn’t know who her parents were or where she came from. Everyone else seemed to have a home, a place to belong, but she didn’t. Abandoned, she felt disconnected from the world.

But now, the collar around her neck gave her a faint sense of connection to someone else.

Before she could delve deeper into this feeling, her ride arrived. She quickly slipped into the car, shutting out the cold air outside.

Back at the news center, Wei Ning was already waiting for her in the office.

Her colleagues were working feverishly, heads buried in piles of materials as they edited furiously.

It was clear the entire department was scrambling to cover Lu Zhao’s bombshell revelation at the press conference. When they saw her return, their eyes held a mix of admiration for the returning heroine and deep concern.

As for what they were worried about…

Wei Ning’s expression remained impassive. “Explain your actions.”

The Station Director had also arrived, sitting beside Wei Ning and watching Lu Zhao silently, his expression unreadable.

Seeing their reactions, Lu Zhao abandoned any attempt at explanation. “It’s exactly as you saw.”

Wei Ning fell silent, visibly angered by her defiant attitude. The Station Director interjected, “How much will the breach of contract cost us?”

Remembering her agreement with Gu Xianyue, Lu Zhao delivered the prepared response she had rehearsed. “President Gu didn’t demand compensation. Instead, she openly acknowledged the Lingkang Group’s misleading advertising and requested that we endorse their new products again in the future. She assured us that future campaigns would be factual and free of exaggeration.”

Lu Zhao delivered this explanation without a hint of hesitation or embarrassment, leaving Wei Ning to stare in astonishment.

She found it hard to believe, even though she had Gu Xianyue’s contact information.

Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone to contact Gu Xianyue.

Lu Zhao quickly stopped her. “Let’s confirm with her tomorrow. She’s probably resting for the night.”

Wei Ning frowned. “How do you know…? Wait, have you been drinking?”

Despite Lu Zhao’s efforts to freshen up before entering the office, Wei Ning detected a faint scent of alcohol on her.

Lu Zhao reluctantly admitted, “Yes, I had dinner with President Gu earlier to finalize the agreement. She doesn’t hold her liquor well and is likely resting at home now.”

Wei Ning reluctantly accepted the explanation but still scolded Lu Zhao. “Couldn’t you have informed the station beforehand? We could have prepared in advance.”

Lu Zhao smiled sweetly and replied, “I’ll definitely do that next time.”

In truth, she knew that if she had informed the station beforehand, her actions might not have been approved.

The station’s conservative approach prioritized stability, and their reputation wouldn’t allow them to breach contracts.

Lu Zhao had been fortunate this time; Gu Xianyue’s leniency had prevented serious consequences.

Wei Ning looked at Lu Zhao, sensing something was off, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

“Drinking on the job? You…”

She had heard of Gu Xianyue’s ruthless efficiency. The General Manager was known for securing massive profits for the Lingkang Group with every move. Why had she suffered such a humiliating defeat at Lu Zhao’s hands this time?

Could my adopted daughter have been tricked and is now helping the other side count their money?

“It’s alright, Director Wei,” Shen Tianlin interjected with a jovial smile, smoothing over the tension. “Young people will be young people. Besides, it was for work-related socializing.”

Seeing the atmosphere thaw, Lu Zhao pressed her advantage. “About the Special Project Team I applied to establish…”

Station Director Shen Tianlin replied, “Your performance this time was exceptional. Though your methods were… unconventional, the result was a groundbreaking report that captivated the entire province and significantly boosted the Provincial Television Station’s influence. You are undoubtedly a hero.”

“I was just discussing this with Director Wei. Since the other party isn’t pursuing legal action, I can verbally approve your Special Project Team now. The official documentation will be issued in a few days.”

“Prepare well over the next few days,” Wei Ning sighed. “But remember, my standards are very strict.” What else could she do? The Station Director had already given his approval.

Lu Zhao’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Director Wei and Director Shen, for your support!”

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lu Zhao immediately launched into “praise mode,” showering the two leaders with sincere compliments.

Despite their years of experience navigating corporate politics, the two seasoned executives found themselves charmed by the young woman’s genuine and effusive praise. Her compliments, delivered like rapid-fire volleys, were surprisingly substantive and left them feeling genuinely appreciated.

“Have you let all the recent praise go to your head?” Gu Yu stormed into Gu Xianyue’s office, waking her from a still-drowsy state. “You’re getting too cocky!”

Lu Zhao’s actions had infuriated Gu Yu. Though the live stream was quickly cut off, news of the scandal still leaked through various media outlets, damaging the Lingkang Group’s reputation and image.

Thanks to Lu Zhao’s blunder, the group’s public relations and legal departments were working overtime, and the company’s stock price plummeted.

Gu Yu had warned Gu Xianyue long ago to be cautious about whom she hired. Now, her face pale with anger, she demanded coldly, “What are you going to do about this?”

Gu Xianyue rubbed her temples, feigning distress. “I’ve spoken with Lu Zhao. The Provincial Television Station will continue to endorse us, provided we make amends. We can still salvage our reputation.”

Gu Yu’s expression darkened further. “You’re still going to collaborate with her?”

Gu Xianyue smiled. “Exactly. As the saying goes, ‘Get back up where you fell.'”

She paused before continuing, “I’ve already reached an agreement with Lingkang Group, a foreign-funded medical technology company. Our next product will incorporate their cutting-edge technology. With the Provincial Television Station—the same outlet that exposed us last time—endorsing us again, it will carry far more weight.”

“Simultaneously, I’ve gathered incriminating evidence against Shengye Group. By leaking this information to the media just before our product launch, consumers will naturally see which group’s products are more trustworthy.”

Gu Yu frowned in contemplation.

Shengye Group had been Yunqing’s long-standing rival. The two conglomerates had highly overlapping business interests and similar market positioning, making them each other’s primary adversaries.

While Gu Xianyue’s proposed plan carried risks, it was undeniably the most effective way to stabilize the group’s plummeting stock prices.

Gu Yu felt a lingering sense of unease. She had proposed the AI marketing strategy, but Gu Xianyue hadn’t fully endorsed her idea.

Now that things had gone wrong, Gu Yu didn’t question the validity of her decision. Instead, she unilaterally blamed Gu Xianyue for choosing an unreliable and untrustworthy partner.

“The group’s stock price is falling. I’ll find another way,” Gu Yu said, making it clear she intended to take full responsibility for her decision.

Gu Xianyue smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. We can contain the losses. I suggest the company issue new shares. As for shareholders, what about bringing Lingkang on board?”

Gu Yu’s eyes lit up momentarily before she frowned in thought.

The incident would inevitably cause the company’s stock price to plummet, leading to a massive outflow of capital. More critically, the board members might lose confidence in the company’s prospects and her leadership.

Lingkang, a rising star with global acclaim, joining the group would undoubtedly be a shot in the arm, capable of turning the tide during this crisis.

However… her shrewd mind immediately considered another possibility.

“Yueyue, how did you secure Lingkang Group’s investment?”

Gu Xianyue wasn’t surprised by Gu Yu’s question.

She understood Gu Yu’s concerns: she feared that the Lingkang Group’s leader had a personal connection with Gu Xianyue, and that the 10% stake would ultimately fall into Gu Xianyue’s hands.

Currently, Gu Xianyue held a portion of the group’s shares, while Gu Yu held the largest stake, with the remaining shares distributed among the board members. It was likely that during this crisis, the board members would sell off some of their shares.

The shares Lingkang acquired would consist of 5% from Gu Yu’s holdings and a portion sold by the board members.

Even with this arrangement, Gu Yu would remain the absolute authority within the group, wielding an overwhelming majority of the shares.

Gu Yu recited her prepared explanation: “During its early stages, Lingkang indiscriminately supported the logistics and medical units of both warring nations in the Sarawi War Zone. Lu Zhao reported on this, praising Lingkang as a ‘new industry promoting peace,’ which significantly boosted Lingkang’s reputation. As a result, Lingkang held Lu Zhao in high regard and provided her with free medical treatment abroad after her injury.”

Gu Xianyue wasn’t lying. All of this information was publicly available; Gu Yu could easily verify it herself.

The only thing she concealed was that Lingkang’s co-founder, Lingxi, was a friend she’d met while studying abroad.

Lingxi had been studying biomedical engineering at the same university. Lingkang Group was built step by step by Lingxi and her classmate and girlfriend, Connie.

During the company’s early stages, Gu Xianyue had secretly introduced them to valuable resources.

Over the years, they had forged a deep bond of trust and friendship.

Gu Xianyue had already informed Lingxi in advance that when the time was right, Lingkang would transfer its shares to her.

When they heard that Lu Zhao would become Yunqing Group’s new spokesperson, Lingxi and Connie were delighted.

Gu Xianyue had intentionally helped them immensely, while Lu Zhao had unintentionally helped them just as much. The fact that these two could collaborate and come together was, of course, a boon for them.

Gu Yu pondered for a moment, then, convinced that Gu Xianyue wouldn’t deceive her on such a matter, she relented. “Alright, let’s proceed as planned. I’ll return to the company first to reassure the board of directors. Do you want to come?”

Gu Xianyue escorted her to the door. “You lead the charge. As the junior, I’ll simply address it during next week’s company meeting.”

After Gu Yu left, Gu Xianyue retrieved the unfinished glass of red wine and slowly sipped it.

Everything was proceeding smoothly, just as she had anticipated.

And at the heart of it all was one person:

Lu Zhao.