157: Chapter 157 Targeting White Lotus

That day was the weekend, and Zhang Genshuo deliberately walked into White Lotus Flower's small flower shop under the pretext of "ordering opening day flower baskets for a client."

The moment he stepped inside, he was drawn to the girl quietly pruning roses.

Sunlight filtered through the glass window and fell upon her. The way she worked so earnestly with downcast eyes looked clean and beautiful, like a White Lotus Flower untainted by the world.

Zhang Genshuo immediately locked onto his target.

He knew that this kind of girl—with a simple life, an emotional blank slate, and a gentle, kind nature—was the easiest to manipulate.

Thus, he began a meticulously designed pursuit.

He didn't start with aggressive advances right away; instead, he frequently visited the flower shop in the capacity of a customer.

Sometimes he would order a bouquet, and sometimes he would just stop by to sit for a while, chatting with her about work or interesting things in life.

He was elegant in speech, proper in conduct, and witty and humorous. He could always precisely hit upon White Lotus Flower's preferences while maintaining a perfect distance.

He would remember the flower tea she had casually mentioned liking and would bring a tin of it along on his next visit.

When it rained, he would silently appear at the flower shop entrance and hand her an umbrella.

When she stayed up late to finish orders, he would order a warm late-night snack for her, saying no cloying words of love, but only softly reminding her not to get too tired.

For White Lotus Flower, who had never been treated with such care, this kind of gentle, subtle, and silent kindness was simply impossible to resist.

She had lacked love since childhood and yearned to be cared for and valued. Zhang Genshuo's appearance was like a beam of light illuminating her mundane life. She felt so lucky to have met such an outstanding and gentle man.

After more than a month of interaction, Zhang Genshuo saw the right moment and, one night, holding a bouquet of her favorite white roses, confessed his feelings to her.

There was no exaggerated ceremony, only sincere eyes and gentle words.

"Lotus, I've met many people, but only you make me feel at peace."

"I want to be by your side every day from now on, watching you arrange flowers, talking with you, and taking care of you."

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

At that moment, White Lotus Flower's heart completely surrendered.

Blushing, she nodded and threw herself into Zhang Genshuo's arms, feeling like the happiest girl in the world.

From then on, she fell completely into this relationship, making Zhang Genshuo her everything.

She would save the best things for him, learn to cook the dishes he liked, stay quiet and not disturb him when he said he was busy, and her heart would ache for him whenever he occasionally showed signs of exhaustion.

She never doubted Zhang Genshuo's identity or questioned a single word he said.

In her eyes, Zhang Genshuo was a talented young man who managed projects and ran a company. It was normal for him to be a bit busy or tired. All she could do was be obedient, love him well, and not cause him any trouble.

And all of this was within Zhang Genshuo's calculations.

At this moment, looking at White Lotus Flower beside him who was so worried about him, there wasn't a ripple of emotion in Zhang Genshuo's heart—only cold calculation.

He brewed his emotions for a moment, slowly raised his head with slightly reddened eyes full of helplessness and pain, and spoke with a choked voice.

"Lotus, I... something happened at my company."

That one sentence made White Lotus Flower's heart sink heavily.

"What happened?" She grabbed Zhang Genshuo's hand; her palms were icy and her voice was trembling. "Tell me slowly, don't worry. What exactly happened?"

Zhang Genshuo pulled his hand back, rubbed his face hard, and pretended to speak with difficulty, every word sounding as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

"Didn't I tell you a while ago that I was working on a big project?"

"I invested all my savings into it. Everything was going smoothly at first, but I didn't expect... the partner suddenly broke the contract. The capital chain is broken, the company can't rotate funds now, there's not a cent in the accounts, and I can't even pay the employees' salaries."

He paused, lowered his eyes, and his voice carried a heavy sense of self-reproach.

"I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid you'd worry and be stressed along with me. But I really can't hold on anymore. I feel so bad and didn't know who to turn to, so I could only come to you."

After saying this, he picked up the water glass on the table, pretending to drink to hide the flash of triumph in his eyes.

He had said this exact script to Tian Ningning once before. Every detail and every tone had been polished to perfection. Saying it again to White Lotus Flower, it was still seamless.

White Lotus Flower's heart twisted as she listened.

She didn't understand projects or capital chains, but she could understand Zhang Genshuo's helplessness and feel his pain.

In her heart, Zhang Genshuo was so hardworking and capable; how could something like this happen to him?

The thought of him bearing such immense pressure alone made her heart ache terribly.

"Then what should we do?" Her eyes instantly turned red, tears welling up as her small hands tightly gripped the hem of her clothes. She looked at Zhang Genshuo helplessly. "Is the company in great danger now? Is there any way I can help you?"

Zhang Genshuo was waiting for those very words.

But he didn't immediately ask for money. Instead, he continued to use his tried-and-true tactic of playing hard to get.

He gently shook his head and reached out to pat White Lotus Flower's head. His movements were tender, but his tone carried a hint of stubbornness and refusal.

"It's no use. The amount needed isn't small, and I don't want to drag you down."

"Lotus, you're a good girl. You've already suffered enough being with me. I can't let you worry for me anymore, and I certainly can't let you borrow money for me."

As he spoke, he stood up with feigned strength and walked toward the door with unsteady steps. "I just came to see you and talk to you. Feeling a bit better is enough."

"Don't worry, I'll think of another way myself. It'll pass eventually."

He was leaving.

This move was most fatal to women with a 'love brain.'

The more he pushed her away and claimed he didn't want to involve her, the more her heart would ache, and the more she would want to give everything regardless of the cost.

Sure enough, White Lotus Flower immediately rushed forward, tightly hugging Zhang Genshuo's waist from behind. Her cheek pressed against his back, and tears finally fell, wetting his clothes.

"I won't let you go!" she cried out. "Do you not see me as your girlfriend? We are lovers; we should face difficulties together! If you shoulder everything yourself, are you treating me as an outsider?"

Zhang Genshuo's body stiffened for a moment. He sneered in his heart, but his face still wore an expression of pain and helplessness.

"It's not that, Lotus. I just..."

"There are no 'justs'!" White Lotus Flower interrupted him. She turned around and looked at him with a tear-stained face, her gaze resolute.

"Tell me, exactly how much money do you need? Even if I have to risk my life, I'll help you raise it!"

Zhang Genshuo was waiting for her to take the initiative.

He knew that White Lotus Flower wasn't as wealthy as Tian Ningning.

Tian Ningning had a stable job.

But White Lotus Flower was just a floral designer with a small flower shop. Her income was unstable, her savings weren't much, and the money she could provide was limited.

But even a mosquito's leg is meat. Before he completely disappeared, he wouldn't let a single cent go.

...