<h4>Chapter 142 Lin Ruoxi is dying?</h4>


    Until now, Wu Xue had held a steadfast belief that Fang Dongmei was an unwavering pir of loyalty within thepany. However, the shocking revtion from Zhang Wei shook her to the core.


    Evidently, Fang Dongmei''s prolonged presence in this smallpany was solely motivated by the allure of money, specifically the potential windfall from her shares if thepany were to be listed.


    It was nothing short of a bitter truth, a reality that extended beyond thepany''s walls.


    Even the exorbitant sries of top executives were nothing more than minuscule grains of sand inparison to the astronomical housing prices that loomed over their heads.


    It became apparent that the true driving force behind their dedication to their positionsy in the realm ofpany stocks.


    Brimming with rapid growth, the real estate division stood on the precipice of an imminent listing, an event that would undoubtedly fuse its fate with that of Pearl Cosmetics in the not-so-distant future.


    Fang Dongmei''s musings held a certain validity, yet they posed an impending dilemma.


    Lin Ruoxi and Wu Xue had recently managed to recruit a plethora of exceptionally talented staff.


    But what if their intentions were not rooted in genuine dedication, but rather in the alluring prospect of acquiring shares?


    Should bothpanies be listed and the shares attain desirable value, abandoning ship and selling them at a premium seemed to be an inevitable course of action for the opportunistic employees.


    This, in turn, would leave the organization bereft of vital personnel and shatter its carefully constructed framework.


    Where others saw dedication and loyalty, Zhang Wei saw only conditional rtionships—an irrefutable truth that often eluded the observation of others.


    In the face of this revtion, the notion of loyalty was exposed for what it truly was—utter andplete bullshit.


    Nevertheless, Fang Dongmei harbored no inclination to desert her post.


    Her sole motivation resided in the pursuit of personal financial gain, void of ulterior motives or ambitions.


    Isn''t this was normally people do?


    Yet, as she pondered over the reasons behind Zhang Wei deliberately embarrassing her, a sudden realization dawned upon her.


    Perhaps she had disturbed his good deeds with Wu Xue, a thought that ignited a fire of anger within her.


    Frustration surged through her veins for daring to confront him at such an inappropriate moment.


    Deep within her heart, she cursed Zhang Wei and Wu Xue for their unabashed shamelessness.


    Though she hesitated to seize this opportunity and reveal her findings, for doing so would undoubtedly dig her own grave—the grave of her aspirations and ambitions.


    Zhang Wei, his frustration evident, forcefully waved his hands as if shooing away an annoyance. "I''ll just have Xue sanction your loan. You can go," he said coldly, his intent to embarrass her palpable in his voice.


    Feng Dongmei, feeling a mix of fluster and gratitude, nodding hurriedly replied, "Thank you, President." With newfound confidence, she swiftly rose from her seat and sauntered out, her hips swaying defiantly, no longer willing to tolerate this wretched ce.


    In the depths of her being, Zhang Wei appeared more fearsome than even Lin Ruoxi. In an instant, he transformed from a despicable, lustful man into a spine-chilling leader in her eyes.


    A perplexed expression settled on Wu Xue''s face as she emerged from the room. "Why did you call me Xue? Won''t Director Fang be suspicious?" she inquired with an unsettling unease, her confusion apparent at his unnervingly intimate reference.


    Wouldn''t this only serve to heighten Fang Dongmei''s suspicions?


    A sly, mischievous grin crept across Zhang Wei''s face. "Oh, then what should I call you? Or perhaps... Ai Ren?" he taunted, his yful tone sending a shiver down her spine.


    Her cheeks ignited with a burning blush, and Wu Xue hastily retreated into the sanctuary of her small cabin, her heart pounding with embarrassment, terrified of facing him again.


    "Haha," Zhang Wei chuckled to himself, relishing in the thrill of teasing an older woman. Now, his thoughts shifted to what he should do with Fang Dongmei.


    Although no concrete ns had formed, he was determined to teach that woman a well-deserved lesson.


    ''A married woman, huh?''


    With a wicked n in his heart, Zhang Wei was ready for tomorrow, when he would finally meet Lin Ruoxi again.


    As a privileged woman who had never witnessed poverty, how would she be able to endure this hunger?


    He wondered just how desperate she must be at this moment.


    _______


    In the small room, illuminated by blindingly bright white light, a disheveled woman named Lin Ruoxi relentlessly pounds on the door, her desperate pleas echoing off the sterile walls.


    "Get me out!!"


    "I need food!"


    "I would die here like this!"


    Her hair is a wild mess, evoking an image of a person teetering on the edge of insanity. The room contains nothing but a solitary bed, and the small water bottle within it is a cruel reminder of its emptiness.


    Lin Ruoxi, once a picture of opulence and wealth, now stands before us, a shadow of her former self. Yet, traces of her beauty still linger on her face, stark against the backdrop of her current torment.


    Raven, observing the distressing scene alongside Rose through a hidden camera, turns to herpanion. "Are you sure she can endure another day in this state?" she asks, her voiceden with concern.


    Rose''s lips form a solemn frown as she gazes at the harrowing spectacle of Lin Ruoxi spiraling into madness.


    Though it has only been her second day of confinement, the exhaustion from a sleepless night with Zhang Wei has transformed this period into what feels like a week of starvation for her.


    Hunger may still be suppressed through ketogenesis, but the absence of water is driving her mind to the brink of lunacy, dehydration clouding her thoughts.


    The basic needs of human beings are satisfied in a specific sequence, ranging from essentials to luxuries.


    First, water and food are essential for survival. Only then does the need for financial security be a concern, followed by the pursuit of luxuries.


    But when you strip away the essentials, breaking down theseyers of needs, one no longer dares to contemte the higher levels of fulfillment. The earlier needs, left unmet, be all-consuming.


    Zhang Wei, in his cruel act, has stripped away everything that Lin Ruoxi requires to survive, ultimately propelling her toward the precipice of sanity.


    She has already sumbed to unconsciousness once, and upon waking, she iled and thrashed, throwing a fit.


    Now, as the live footage yed out on the monitor, Rose watched Lin Ruoxi crumble into a devastating disy of vulnerability, her strength eroded by her dire circumstances.


    Dry signs of tears on her cheeks as she pleaded, her voice dim as if verge on death, "... water... I want... to go ... outside... please.... "


    Lin Ruoxi''s voice trembled and faltered as she whispered her darkest fear, the weight of her desperation palpable. "I... I''ll die...


    Did they leave her here for her impending death?


    Lin Ruoxi didn''t want to die like this...


    She still wants to live...


    But the thought of being abondened forever made her very soul shiver.


    Her head bowed low, her unkempt hair cascading like a dark veil, Lin Ruoxi knelt near the door, her body trembling uncontrobly.


    In this moment, it became painfully clear that her spirit, battered and fragile, had never possessed the resilience required to endure such cruel confinement.


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    A/N: Ai Ren = Lover