Chapter 4: So This Is How You Became the Top Salesperson

Shen Ling didn’t even wait for him to touch her. She coldly moved a step to the side. Who knew which woman’s bed he had just crawled out of? The thought disgusted her.

“There are other people here.”

Zhou Bin, embarrassed, rubbed his nose and his gaze landed on Bo Jinqian, who stood nearby, impeccably dressed.

“Thanks for looking after Lingling tonight,” Zhou Bin said as he reached for his business card. But before he could retrieve it, Bo Jinqian let out a cold, ambiguous laugh and turned away without another word.

Thwarted, Zhou Bin’s expression dimmed with displeasure. “What’s wrong with him? Did he take the wrong medicine?”

“He’s got a boss’s temper. Ignore him,” Shen Ling replied, her exhaustion from the night evident in her lackluster tone. She had no energy left to deal with Zhou Bin and, after a few perfunctory words, got straight into his car.

Half an hour later, Zhou Bin parked downstairs at Shen Ling’s apartment. He had just turned off the ignition, about to escort her upstairs, when Shen Ling stopped him coldly, “The place is a mess tonight. I won’t invite you in.”

Without affording him any opportunity to make excuses, Shen Ling got out of the car. Not until she stepped into the elevator did the taut string inside her finally snap.

She leaned wearily against the polished elevator mirror.

Her skirt had just been violently torn by Bo Jinqian. If she stood in the light, Zhou Bin would surely have noticed. Although she’d already resolved to cut ties with Zhou Bin, she couldn’t hand him an excuse to go ranting to her mother.

As she was lost in thought, a new multimedia message arrived, unsigned.

The image was dim and indistinct, but she could just make out her own black stockings, torn apart.

“So this is how you became the sales champion.”

Reading those scornful, mocking words, Shen Ling knew instantly they were from Bo Jinqian. Over the years, she’d heard colleagues gossiping behind her back more times than she could count, but she’d never cared.

She needed money too badly, and pride wouldn’t earn her any. To be able to navigate these places of vice without truly losing herself—that was her skill, and she saw no need to explain herself to anyone.

And Bo Jinqian, what right did he have to sneer at her?

Staring at that familiar string of numbers, Shen Ling found herself momentarily lost. She could recite that number backwards. In her student days, she’d spent countless sleepless nights talking with the owner of that number, sharing dreams of the future and promising to never part.

Now, it was all a joke.

Her eyes turned cold. With a short laugh, she dragged the number into her blacklist.

…

Even though she’d spent the previous night drinking with clients, Shen Ling forced herself to return to the office the next day, headache and all.

Smack. Her direct supervisor, Feng Qin, slammed a stack of files on her desk the moment she sat down.

“Have you heard of Chanten Group?”

Feng Qin, dressed in a crisply tailored suit, her short hair perfectly in place, exuded an air of authority and dominance.

Shen Ling was used to Feng Qin’s unfriendly attitude and tuned out the barbs in her tone, flipping through the documents.

“The new CEO at Chanten Group is Bo Jinqian, just back from America.”

“A lot of people have their eyes on their projects. After some discussion, the leadership has decided that, from now on, you’ll be in charge of this account.”

Feng Qin had barely finished assigning the task when Xiao Zhou, sitting next to Shen Ling, couldn’t help but interject.

“There must be at least fifty, if not a hundred, companies trying to land a deal with Chanten. What can our little company possibly offer to win their business?”

Xiao Zhou all but said outright that Feng Qin was setting Shen Ling up for failure. But Feng Qin seemed oblivious to the implication. She shrugged with a sneer, “That’s not my problem. I’m not the sales champion here.”

With that, she shot Shen Ling a mocking look and left, clearly pleased with herself.

“Arrogant bully!” Xiao Zhou spat toward Feng Qin’s back, then turned her clear almond eyes on Shen Ling, worry etched across her face. “Sister Shen Ling…”

Shen Ling looked up from the files and offered Xiao Zhou a reassuring smile.

“It’s fine. High risk, high reward.”

She gazed at the contract proposal in her hands, her eyes growing more determined. Any collaboration with Chanten was worth a fortune, and if she could secure it, her commission would be substantial.

Just a week ago, the doctor had called; her mother’s current treatment was barely effective, and better medication was needed…

She knew well enough, given her history with Bo Jinqian, the odds of clinching this contract were slim. But as long as there was a chance, she would try.

With that thought, Shen Ling gathered the files from her desk and left the office.

Twenty minutes later, she stood before the doors of Chanten Group.