159: Chapter 159 Tina, the Love-Obsessed One

Tina also lived in the Fenghua Li Residential Complex, though her place was further inside.

Zhang Genshuo walked quickly along the Residential Complex's paths, constantly refining his expression and what he was going to say.

To handle Tina, he needed to use a method similar to the one he used for White Lotus Flower, yet with slight differences.

Tina’s personality was more independent and assertive; she wasn't soft and obedient like White Lotus Flower. Therefore, he had to calibrate his display of weakness and vulnerability more precisely—enough to make her heart ache for him, but not so much that she would think he was incompetent.

Soon, Zhang Genshuo reached the building where Tina lived. He looked up at the window glowing with warm light, a confident smile playing on his lips.

Tina.

She was the third target he had secured in the Fenghua Li Residential Complex, and the last pawn he had carefully selected.

It had to be said that Zhang Genshuo’s taste was consistently high; Tina’s looks were likewise impeccable.

She was different from Tian Ningning’s mature gentleness and White Lotus Flower’s pure, clean aura.

Tina went for a bright, chic look. She had sharp, well-defined features, cool-toned fair skin, and a tall, striking figure. With her sleek, collarbone-length hair, she exuded the sophistication and spirit of an urban woman, boasting a head-turning rate that was off the charts.

As for Tina’s profession, she was the owner of a nail and eyelash salon.

She ran a highly popular nail salon in a downtown shopping mall, with excellent skills, great taste, and a stable customer base.

She had a fair amount of savings and was independent and competitive. Usually, she didn't trust others easily, but once she fell for someone, she became exceptionally devoted—a total "love-brain."

This was exactly the type Zhang Genshuo wanted most.

A tough exterior but a soft heart, wealthy, devoted, and easy to manipulate.

Zhang Genshuo took a deep breath and sprayed a little more of the low-proof liquor he had prepared on himself. It wasn't pungent, but it created an air of "drowning one's sorrows in alcohol." Then, he raised his hand and rang Tina’s doorbell.

Ding-dong.

The sound of the doorbell was exceptionally clear in the quiet hallway.

Before long, the door was pulled open, and Tina appeared at the entrance.

She had just removed her makeup, and though her face was bare, she was still stunningly beautiful. She wore a set of black silk loungewear that accentuated her graceful figure.

Seeing Zhang Genshuo standing outside, she was clearly taken aback. A flash of pleasant surprise crossed her eyes, followed quickly by a frown.

"Genshuo? Why are you here at this hour?"

Tina’s voice was slightly husky and very distinctive. She looked him up and down and immediately smelled the faint scent of alcohol on him. "Have you been drinking? With whom? Why do you look so out of sorts?"

Tina’s personality had always been direct; she hated beating around the bush. Zhang Genshuo had known this clearly since the day they met.

Zhang Genshuo didn't answer immediately. He simply leaned against the doorframe, eyes downcast, his long lashes hiding the calculation in his gaze. He appeared desolate and exhausted, his voice low and weary: "Tina, I... can I come in and talk? My heart feels so heavy."

He started by showing weakness, accurately hitting Tina’s softest spot.

Although Tina was assertive, she couldn't stand seeing the person she liked being mistreated.

She hesitated for a second before stepping aside to let him in. "Come in. What on earth happened to make you look half-dead like this?"

Zhang Genshuo walked into the apartment with his head bowed. Tina’s home was decorated in a minimalist yet high-end style, with a black, white, and gray color palette that exuded sophistication—exactly like her own style.

He walked over to the sofa in the living room and sat down, resting his forehead on his crossed hands. He didn't speak for a long time, creating a heavy, unspeakable pressure.

Tina closed the door and sat down across from him, her legs crossed. She had a powerful aura, yet her eyes couldn't hide her concern.

"Talk to me. What’s going on? Is work not going well, or did you have a falling out with someone? You're usually so resilient; why are you like this today?"

This was exactly the questioning Zhang Genshuo had been waiting for.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly bloodshot and filled with helplessness and pain. Anyone who saw him like that would feel a surge of pity.

He didn't immediately say that something had happened at the company. Instead, he first began to evoke Tina’s memories, making her recall every detail of their meeting and falling in love to reinforce her feelings for him.

"Tina, do you still remember how we met?" he spoke softly, his tone tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Tina’s expression softened instantly.

How could she possibly forget?

She and Zhang Genshuo had met in her own nail salon.

It was a few months ago when Zhang Genshuo had walked into her shop under the pretext of "choosing nail art gift sets for female clients."

The shop was very busy at the time, so Tina had handled the reception herself. As soon as she looked up, she saw Zhang Genshuo standing before her.

He was tall, handsome, dressed in clean, high-quality clothes, and spoke with elegance and poise. He was completely different from the chattering female customers in the shop, making her remember him at a single glance.

Zhang Genshuo was a great conversationalist. He didn't talk about nails or business; instead, he talked about aesthetics, design, and life. Every word he said resonated deep within Tina.

Having run a nail salon for years, Tina had seen countless men, but this was the first time she had met one who understood aesthetics, had taste, and was gentle without being greasy.

From that day on, Zhang Genshuo became a "regular" at the shop.

He didn't come for manicures; instead, he often used excuses like "just passing by," "delivering documents," or "picking up samples" to appear before Tina.

He would remember the exact sweetness of the iced Americano she liked and would deliver warm, nutritious meals right on time when she was too busy to eat.

When she stayed up late working on design sketches, he would sit quietly on the sofa in the shop and keep her company—no interruptions, no rushing, just silently waiting for her to finish.

Tina was a woman used to being independent. She had been strong since childhood and relied on herself for everything. No man had ever looked after her with such meticulous care like Zhang Genshuo, while also respecting her career and understanding her hard work.

She had a strong exterior, but deep down, she desperately craved being favored and nurtured. Zhang Genshuo’s appearance happened to fill all the voids in her heart.

He never used greasy pick-up lines, yet he always managed to make her heart flutter through the details.

He never went out of his way to flatter her, yet he always appeared when she needed him most.

After two months of pursuit, on a night when Tina was crying out of frustration over a business dispute at the shop, Zhang Genshuo appeared before her with an umbrella. He pulled her tightly into his arms and whispered, "I'm here now. No one will ever let you suffer again."

It was that one sentence that made Tina fall for him completely.

She had never imagined that a woman as picky and assertive as herself would willingly fall so deeply in love with a man.

She was even willing to let down all her guard for him and become a little woman who depended on him.

She began to pour her heart out to him, treating him as her future partner. Her salon’s income, her savings, and even her future plans—she subconsciously included him in everything.

She had absolute faith in Zhang Genshuo’s words, firmly believing that he was an entrepreneur with ideals and ability working on cultural projects. The occasional busyness and pressure were just inevitable hurdles on the road to success.

As memories flooded back, the gaze Tina fixed on Zhang Genshuo had long since lost its initial sharpness, leaving only overwhelming pity and tenderness.

She sighed, her tone softening: "Of course I remember. Don't change the subject—what on earth happened?"

...