Plunder
Chapter 98 - 98 98 Have You Ever Loved Me

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Have You Ever Loved Me? Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Have You Ever Loved Me? Once these words were spoken, Zhou Jin’an was left speechless for quite some time.

His eyes darkened as he stared at Qiao En. Was she joking? Or was she angry with him over something?

“Break off the engagement with him.”

Zhou Jin’an issued the command as if Qiao En were still his secretary.

In the past, whenever he gave an order, no matter how bizarre, she would carry it out without fail.

He stared at Qiao En with his ink-black eyes, exuding his innate dominance.

Qiao En pushed against Zhou Jin’an, “Impossible.”

“Director Zhou, I hope you won’t come here anymore. I’m getting married soon and I don’t want my fiancé to misunderstand.”

Qiao En walked past Zhou Jin’an, heading straight for the door.

As if they were now just strangers.

“Do you love him?”

As Qiao En reached to unlock the door, Zhou Jin’an’s voice came from behind her.

Love?

This was the first time she had heard the word from his mouth, and Qiao En found it quite unusual.

Such a sentimental topic was not suitable for them to discuss, nor for this night.

Qiao En stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Zhou Jin’an.

He seemed defeated, his self-confidence had faded from his face, and even his eyes, cold as millennia-old ice, shimmered with a touch of sadness.

“Director Zhou, how tacky love is!”

Qiao En laughed with a sigh, showing how lightly she took everything, the more Zhou Jin’an seemed unable to let go.

“It’s enough that Ding Hao loves me.”

She no longer called him Mr. Zhou, and she refused even to match his tone of voice.

He had taken off his mask, but she had welded hers onto her face.

What’s so important about what’s real and what’s fake?

“Didn’t you promise to wait for me? Why go back on your word?”

Zhou Jin’an was somewhat unwilling, his voice tinged with anger.

Qiao En’s spine chilled.

She laughed again after a moment.

“Can’t I change my mind?”

She was like a rogue in matters of the heart, rendering Zhou Jin’an helpless.

Just as Qiao En was about to go inside, Zhou Jin’an’s voice reached her again.

“Did you ever love me?”

When he asked this, Qiao En’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.

She looked deeply at Zhou Jin’an, trying to see into his heart through that gaze.

She had loved, with all her heart, but eventually, she realized that love only left one battered and full of holes.

So, what use was such feeble and humiliating love?

“Did Director Zhou ever love me?”

Qiao En didn’t answer but countered with a question of her own.

“I did.”

Qiao En had not expected a response from Zhou Jin’an, yet he had answered, causing her some panic.

A belated answer, stirring up nothing but regrets.

Qiao En’s heart raced, but only for a moment, before she regained her composure.

He had loved, and that was all, but he hadn’t only loved her; he had loved others too.

Besides, she was just a stand-in. What did she care?

“Is Director Zhou sure the person he loved was me?”

Qiao En’s eyes held a trace of mockery.

Some things, unspoken by him, unprobed by her.

“Who do you think it was?”

Zhou Jin’an’s eyes darkened further as he retorted.

Their gazes met, sparks flying in the flash of a second.

One questioning, the other choosing to withdraw.

Qiao En scoffed.

She had indeed been out of place just now!

She was the stand-in; how could she compare to the real deal?

So, Qiao En shrugged and yawned deliberately, feigning complete indifference.

“I’m tired; I want to rest. Director Zhou should go home early.”

Before Zhou Jin’an could react, she swiftly slammed the door shut.

Yet the moment the door closed, she slid down against it to sit on the floor.

She had made her choice, but how could the most rational decision evade the critique of emotions?

She loved him, that was true.

But she would never accept a love without dignity.

That night, Qiao En had a restless sleep.

Time seemed like a reel of film, gradually unfolding in her dreams.

The first time she stood in front of Jin’an, she was youthful and vibrant, while he sat there quietly, keeping everyone at a distance, exuding a chill.

It took her three years trying to gradually warm his heart.

Had it warmed? Perhaps, otherwise why would he have looked back at her time and again?

Was it just for her? How could that be possible? Wasn’t he always trying to escape everything related to Su Nian?

To let go completely was to facilitate for him and his old love, as well as her own freedom.

In the middle of the night.

Qiao En woke up with a thought she had never had before—she wanted to leave Rong City.

Only by leaving Rong City could she distance herself from all these troubles and conflicts.

She turned on her phone and checked each bank account, but the small amounts of money added up to less than ten thousand yuan.

Qiao En stared at the string of numbers for a long time, knowing that leaving would require a lot of money.

Only with plenty of money could she fly far away.

She had never considered shaking down Ding Hao for money; marrying him was just a smokescreen.

It was already unfair to him, and making him lose money, Qiao En somewhat couldn’t bear it.

In the wee hours, Qiao En’s mind was focused on how to get money, and before she could think of a feasible way, a “God of Wealth” came to deliver money right to her door.

Early the next morning.

Before Qiao En could wake up, there was already a knock on the door.

Thinking it was Ding Hao, she went to open the door in her slippers, only to find, to her surprise, that it was Cheng Lu standing outside.

“Assistant Cheng, what brings you here?”

Qiao En asked in surprise.

Cheng Lu’s face looked upset, and he seemed to be angry with Qiao En.

“Secretary Qiao, this time you’ve really hurt Director Zhou’s heart. Don’t you know whether he has feelings for you or not? For you, he didn’t hesitate to sever ties with An Corporation. For you, he even called off his engagement with Miss An. Do you know what situation Director Zhou is in now? The whole world is pressuring him. Can’t you just stay by his side?”

Cheng Lu had come to reprimand her, and Qiao En listened earnestly, remaining calm.

“If I stay by his side, can all these problems be solved?”

Qiao En countered, which took Cheng Lu by surprise.

“Director Zhou went to the police station just yesterday to clear your name. Nobody believes you, but he chose to trust you. Qiao En, think about it again!”

Cheng Lu was quite emotional, and his voice raised several decibels.

Qiao En’s emotions fluctuated too, but she didn’t plan to argue with Cheng Lu.

“Assistant Cheng, if you came here today just to tell me this, I’m sorry, I don’t want to listen, please leave.”

Qiao En said, then moved to close the door.

Cheng Lu blocked the door with his hand, his face still seething with anger.

“Qiao En, do you really want to do this? Won’t you regret it? Director Zhou really needs you right now.”

Qiao En stared into his eyes for a long while.

She knew better than anyone what she was doing, and she was clearer than anyone about what she wanted.

“I am a person, not an object. It’s not about fulfilling his desires whenever he needs me. He wants me to stay, but I am unwilling. Assistant Cheng, I am already engaged, what you’re saying is out of line.”

Qiao En’s face grew stern, she seemed angry.

Cheng Lu sighed deeply, unable to persuade Qiao En.

“This is something Director Zhou asked me to give you. Qiao En, you’ve really disappointed me.”

He said, pulling an envelope from his pocket and handing it to her.

Qiao En didn’t take it.

Cheng Lu’s hand relaxed, and the envelope dropped to the ground as he turned and walked towards the elevator.

Disappointed?

It seemed everyone could use that word with Qiao En.

But what right did they have to hold expectations of her?

And why shouldn’t she disappoint them?

Just because he was rich and powerful?

Just because she was insignificant?

Anger surged within Qiao En.

She didn’t pick up the envelope; she let it lie there on the ground.

An hour later, Ding Hao arrived.

He was all dressed up in a suit and tie, making himself look very formal.

Upon entering, he noticed the envelope lying on the floor.

“En’en, what’s this?”

Ding Hao picked it up, and was about to open it when Qiao En tried to stop him, but she couldn’t stop him in time.

A red book and a golden card fell to the ground.