Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 470: Lush and Full of Vitality

Time slowly elapsed.

The next day.

Zink Tower.

Zink was in a foul mood early in the morning.

After returning home yesterday, even his own daughter had scolded him.

"You need to change your temper, look at you!" Joanne Zink criticized him, "I heard you badmouthing Serena Sterling at your old friends’ gathering recently, and now you go directly to her door and say nasty things."

"Dad, I know you’re standing up for me, but it’s embarrassing."

Zink sat in his office, thinking she might be right.

Serena Sterling, regardless of her situation, is just a younger person with no one to rely on, and he kept troubling and toying with her.

Although she came to see him to find out about Evan Sheridan, Evan is her father, which is normal, and she even brought him a gift.

And then he insisted on going to Aeon to trouble her further.

For the first time, Zink, who had teased many people, felt he might have gone too far.

As he was thinking—

"Knock, knock." Someone knocked on the door.

"Chairman, someone from Aeon is requesting a meeting." The secretary came in and said, "They are already downstairs."

"Let them come up," Zink said.

Who could it be?

Perhaps it’s that secretary named Raine, bringing a message from Serena Sterling.

Probably not going to be good news.

As he continued to think, after a little while, the office door was knocked again.

"Chairman, the person from Aeon is here."

With the secretary’s voice, Zink looked up.

He thought he would see Raine, but instead, he saw a huge potted plant.

"What is this?" Zink was a bit confused.

Two slender arms were holding the potted plant, and upon hearing his voice, the person peeked out from behind it.

It was Serena Sterling.

"Mr. Zink," Serena said with a smile, "I noticed you really liked that potted plant, but I couldn’t return it to you, so I went and bought a new one as a gift for you."

Saying this, she gestured for Zink to look at the plant she was carrying.

The secretary, perceptive as ever, left the room, closing the door behind.

Zink stared at Serena’s smiling face, dumbfounded.

He thought Serena would never want to see him again.

And he couldn’t imagine Serena coming over with a new potted plant.

In his understanding, trying to please him meant either letting him take away the plant yesterday or enduring humiliation today by bringing it back—but Serena brought a new one.

This could only mean she truly wanted that particular plant.

The previous one’s only special feature was that it had been moved by Evan Sheridan.

Suddenly, Zink felt a bit sad.

Yet, Serena continued to smile.

"Mr. Zink, do you like it? If not, I can get another one," came Serena’s voice.

Only then did Zink snap back. He looked at the potted plant; it was indeed chosen well, lush and full of life.

"It’s nice," Zink replied.

"Then I’ll..." Serena glanced at where the previous one had been and asked, "place it in the same spot?"

"Alright," Zink agreed.

Serena carried the plant over, placed it carefully, adjusted it slightly to harmonize with the others.

Zink watched Serena’s back, speechless, not knowing what to think.

Seeing Serena turn back around after setting everything, she stood by the potted plant, the sunlight streaming through the window, casting a golden hue on her and the plant.

"Mr. Zink, does this look alright?" her voice came through.

Zink didn’t know what to say, only nodding.

Known for his stubbornness, aside from being honest with his daughter, Zink never admitted mistakes publicly.

Quite stubborn.

He thought for a moment and then took out a sticky note, writing something on it.

When Serena approached, she saw the note in Zink’s hand.

"What’s this?" Serena reached out to take it, puzzled.

"Next March, there will be a gathering here, and you can learn everything I know from that gathering," Zink awkwardly said.

Serena held the note tightly, staring blankly at Zink.

"But don’t be too happy just yet," Zink said with a dismissive tone, "You’ll have to get an invitation yourself, and how you obtain what you want at the gathering and leave safely—well, that’s up to you."

After a slight pause, Zink earnestly added, "And don’t mention me, Serena. I don’t want any trouble. Today I haven’t said anything."

Serena’s eyes turned red as she nodded gratefully.

"Thank you," her voice trembled a bit, "I will be careful, Mr. Zink, and I won’t disclose anything."

Zink waved his hand, saying, "No need for all this sentimentality. I just liked the potted plant you brought, consider it a trade-off."

Serena nodded with a smile.

She looked at the contents of the note several times, memorizing it until she was sure it was etched in her mind, then looked back at Zink.

"Mr. Zink, can I borrow an ashtray and a lighter?" Serena asked.

Zink gestured to the side.

Then, Zink watched as Serena walked over there and ignited the note.

The flames devoured the paper, reducing everything to ash.

Serena smiled slightly.

Zink nodded in acknowledgment.

Bringing the paper out posed a risk of leaking his handwriting and content; by burning it, that risk was eliminated.

And because it was burned right in front of him, it put his mind at ease.

Afterward, even if Serena claimed he gave her the address, he could deny it, claiming Serena was making it up since everyone in Aeston knew he disliked Evan Sheridan and constantly targeted Serena Sterling.

Well done.

It was already more than ten minutes later when Serena left the office.

When she exited, there was no change in her expression, just nodding to the secretary by the side before leaving with Raine.

But, as the elevator opened, someone walked out from inside.

It was a woman wearing this season’s latest dress, looking very delicate.

She resembled Zink somewhat.

Serena instantly knew the person’s identity: Joanne Zink, Zink’s daughter.

"Miss Zink," Serena greeted.

"Serena," Joanne Zink stepped out, looking at her.

Serena nodded, preparing to enter the elevator, but the doors had already closed.

Thus, Serena had to wait for the next one.

But Joanne didn’t leave either.

Joanne kept watching Serena’s face.

Serena looked at her puzzled, "Is there something wrong, Miss Zink?"

"You don’t look much like your father," Joanne commented, "but you do resemble Sheila Jenkins quite a bit."

Serena chuckled, "Looking like my mother is normal."

Joanne was noncommittal.

After a moment, Joanne said, "I know about the unpleasant things my dad said at Aeon."

"I apologize on his behalf," Joanne added, "I hope you don’t take it to heart."