CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144 SHE NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE MERCIFUL

In contrast to her trembling legs, someone appeared entirely unperturbed. Seated in his position, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his demeanor remained stoic and composed, exuding an aura of abstinence that shrouded his frost-like coldness.

If anyone dared to call Yan Ting their abstinence-themed male god again, she swore she’d get a piece of paper and seal their mouth shut.

Abstinence? More like insatiable appetite.

Noticing the little woman seated beside him and her indignant yet restrained gaze, Yan Ting’s mood brightened inexplicably this early morning.

Banxia was still taking Yan Ting’s car to work. Upon entering the office, she made her rounds greeting her close friends, catching up on their recent updates, and also took the opportunity to share some insights about ways to enter the Huo Empire.

"Banxia, what good is telling me all this? The Huo family’s threshold is high, you’re not unaware of that. Our kind—college graduates—are a dime a dozen, and it’s far from guaranteed that whoever applies gets hired. Besides, you’re already Mr. Huo’s woman now, can’t you help me out? Banxia, I’m begging you, just help me this once, please. You know my family’s situation—my parents and younger brother are counting on me to support them." Her classmate Zhang Yike’s voice, desperate and choking back sobs, came pleading over the phone.

Banxia truly did not want to further deepen the ache in her friend’s already sorrowful heart, nor could she bear it. Left with no choice, she told her friend she’d consider it further.

The words of her other two friends were similarly varied versions of Zhang Yike’s plea, all invoking their own difficult family circumstances, leaving Banxia emotionally deflated as well.

They were all college comrades who had endured hardships together, knowing each other’s roots. If she didn’t help, it’d indeed be unkind.

Banxia was feeling conflicted when she suddenly glanced at Yan Ting through the glass window nearby.

At that glance, she saw him holding a file and tossing it harshly at the faces of a few people. His face, strikingly handsome, was laden with fury, a clear sign that they had failed to meet his expectations. He was scolding them.

Banxia’s heart clenched, constricting slightly out of fear.

As for Yan Ting’s temperament, she had come to understand it—volatile and unpredictable, with swift changes between joy and rage. No one knew whether he’d be smiling or fuming in the next moment.

Banxia felt utterly anguished; on one side was her friends’ fervent pleas, and on the other was her own unbearable predicament.

In the end, Banxia’s gaze shifted to the opposite office where Qi Han was cheerfully chatting away on his phone.

Her heart stirred. That’s it—should she seek Zuo Han’s help instead?

She certainly lacked the courage to ask Yan Ting for assistance, but when it came to Qi Han, her bravery couldn’t be better.

Qi Han listened to her request with a somewhat bewildered look on his face, pausing for a brief moment in disbelief. "Miss Lin—oh no, young mistress—this matter is something you still need to ask the young master about. If the young master finds out that you came to me for help privately, my punishment would be absolutely no lighter than yours."

"Are you really unable to help?" Banxia’s voice rose in near desperation, tears threatening to spill.

"Really, I can’t!" Qi Han replied firmly. After all, he was the young master’s loyal aide.

Banxia could only return to her office feeling downcast. Not long after, she couldn’t help but recall memories of her past life—how her three friends had also sought her help back then. However, during that time, Banxia discovered that those same friends had, to varying degrees, flirted with Huo Qinglin and played underhanded tricks.

Her heart froze instantly, a wave of chilling disgust washing over her entire body.

If it weren’t for her reflecting on this now, she might have forgotten what attitude those three so-called friends had toward her in her past life.

If helping them in this lifetime risked repeating the past—those friends interfering in her marriage—then, what if this time around, they tried to...

Banxia turned back to look across the glass window at that man who now, composed and calm, was immersed in his work.

The very thought of her friends even contemplating snatching Yan Ting away from her made her entire being lock up in icy dread.

No, absolutely not!