Chapter 1 - Zoey Zhou

February 25, 2019.

The flickering rainbow lights, equally sleek men and woman danced to their heart's content as the loud booming music filled the air. The lone woman in the dark corner of the nightclub watched every beat of their movements.

Unlike the lively crowd and seemingly fun groups of people at each table, either catching up with one another, flirting and making out couples on the dark corner, or friends comforting their crying friend because of whatever heartache she has, the lone woman only had her glass of margarita and a sighing friend as her companion.

"This is sad... I am utterly sad." Zoey Zhou's voice cracked. The corner of her eyes formed salt liquid as she chewed her bottom lip, resisting not to sob.

Zoey Zhou, a 28-year-old woman, CEO and sole owner of the multi-million company: Z Image Group, which she established from scratch eight years ago. Eight years of hustling and grinding to become who she was; a well-respected woman in the business industry for starting her own company at a young age.

Impressive.

She didn't come from a wealthy family, not an heiress, nor was she a spoiled, pampered princess. She started her company from the little savings she accumulated after years of working multiple part-time jobs, being a cheapskate, and budgeting her allowances while being a scholarship student.

So, why was a multi-millionaire businesswoman with a net worth of two hundred eleven million yuan was inside this mediocre nightclub of the city? Not just that, but also holding back her sob under the influence of alcohol?

"Z, I — whatever." Across Zoey Zhou, Cora Ma, a short, bob cut haired woman was her college classmate slash best friend. She let out a heavy sigh before she shook her head, causing the huge black glasses clinging on her small cute nose to slip down.

"Cora, what should I do?" Zoey downed the nth glass of margarita she ordered before leveling her eyes towards her best friend sitting opposite her. "I'm turning 29 next week and then next year, I'll be in my 30s! How can this happen to me?!" Finally, the tears she had been holding back fell, staining her naturally contoured cheeks.

"What do you mean 'how can that happen to you?'" Exasperated at the most hypocritical statement she heard for the day, another deep exhale escape her mouth. "Just go ahead and accept your suitor's proposal, get laid, get married, and the end!" Although it was easier said than done, Cora Ma rolled her eyes at her own ridiculous advice.

Sometimes, Cora Ma felt that she was wasting her energy giving real and serious advice towards her best friend. After all, Zoey Zhou was the weirdest drama queen she had ever known in her life.

Zoey wanted to date, get married, and have kids.

However, Zoey, though she would often date men of different ages, statuses, and interest, she could only last for one date— three dates at most. The reason why?

Someone like her with great vitals, large money on her name, and respectable status — in short, a literal miss independent — was akin to a magnet that attracts young masters from wealthy families and professionals. Hence, it was easy for her to find someone who was interested in her… which would lead to the problem, Zoey automatically loses her interest whenever a guy showed her a mutual interest.

The lack of challenge was what she would usually use as an excuse. And yet, here she was, sobbing as her prime years neared its end.

"This won't do," Wiping her tears, Zoey Zhou shook her head sideways. "I don't think my future hubby will stay at a place like this. Maybe he's an embalmer— I'll go check every funeral parlors tonight and find my romance." She assisted her self up, wobbling for a bit before she got on her feet.

"An embalmer? Really, Z?" Not surprised by the waste of the great mind she has, Cora Ma massaged her temples in distress. The reason why Zoey frequently visited nightclubs and bars was that the hope that she would find her romance here. Thus, even cheap bars like this place, she didn't let them off the hook.

And now, she just hopped to another conclusion. It could never get worse.

"Don't worry, I'll go alone this time." Zoey waved her hands off as she magnanimously permitted her friend not to go with her. As if that was Cora Ma's main concern.

"No, Z. Not tonight — you're drunk." Cora Ma shook her head sideways as she attempted to stop the unstoppable Zoey. Regardless if she was wasting energy or not, Cora Ma knew deep down that no one could stop her friend when she decided on something.

"I can manage. Don't worry." Smiling, Zoey placed her palm on her chest before she nodded, reassuring her. "Also, I can't let my best friend go to a place she's afraid of. Pray for my good luck!" She held her fist a little up, as if showing her firm eagerness to find her one true love.

With that said note, Zoey then began swaying her way out. Her heels trembling, balancing its reckless host not to fall. On the other hand, Cora Ma could only watch her friend's figure fade into the crowd.

"How can I not worry?" A sigh slipped from her mouth as she murmured. Afterward, she took the bill and paid their drinks before heading home. Well, although she wanted to accompany Zoey on her venture to the funeral parlors tonight, she's too afraid of those kind of things and places.

—————

"I lived the life of a drifter~

Waiting for the day

When I'd take your hand and sing you songs~" On her way to the parking space, Zoey sang. Her voice was toneless, not hitting the song's proper notes yet she couldn't care less.

"Then maybe you would say…

Come lay with me, love me, and I would surely stay~" At this point, she reached her car despite her swaying stride and shaking vision.

Zoey blinked her eyes as hard as she could as if it would sober her a little. Well, it worked slightly as she got a hold of her vision before she hitched inside the car.

"Many times I've been a traveler, I looked for something new…~" She compassed her hand as Zoey continued to sing instead of starting the car's engine. "In days of old, when nights were cold, I wandered without you~" Raising her hand towards the front passenger seat, Zoey seemed she was touching her imaginary boyfriend that should be sitting there right now, that was if she had one.

"Now I feel I'm growing older, and the songs that I have sung, echo in the distance~" Frowning, Zoey heavily sighed as her hand slammed on the side of the front passenger seat. Finding a person to be her companion for life was truly hard.

Upon touching a thick, sticky liquid on the leather seat, Zoey's brows knitted. Retracting her hand, she moved it closer to her, to see what kind of filth intruded her car.

However, as soon as she lay her eyes on the crimson red stain on her hand, her eyes widened. Loud alarms rang inside her head, instantly sobering her up.

Just before she could snap, hands from the back passenger seat covered her mouth while his strong arm around her, stilling her to the driver's seat.

"Don't shout…" Under the man's breath, she could clearly hear him gasped for air. Regardless, his adrenaline rush never faltered.. "Please…" he added as Zoey tried to break free while she muffledly screamed.