“That’s my good granddaughter; you just keep in mind that you’re merely pretending to be on the same boat as Pei Ge, but in reality, it’s tense between you two. When the time is right, reveal that she’s faking her pregnancy. I’ll see if Madam Ji can still accept her then.” Old Lady Qu’s evil laughter traveled into her granddaughter’s ear through the phone line and somehow sounded frightening.
“Grandma, I get it. Since I have nothing else, I’ll be hanging up first.”
“Mhm. Remember to manipulate that grandmother-grandson pair well. They’re your most important chess pieces to secure your position in that family.”
“I got it.”
After ending the call, Qu Jingwan sat beside her bed. Her hand, which was gripping the phone, had turned white. Beneath her brown eyeshadows was a wicked heart. Even though Ji Ziming and Pei Ge were so in love, she would make sure that they could not be together.
Her crimson, red lips curled, and hiding inside was a scheme that was being formed.
The afternoon sunlight crept into the space as the cold air from the aircon spread across the room. Only the rustling of papers flipping and the clicking of the mouse could be heard in the room.
Unknowingly, it was already half past twelve, and Pei Ge’s flat stomach started growling. This noise interrupted the peaceful atmosphere in the room.
“You’re hungry?” Ji Ziming lifted his head and moved his neck as he asked. “What do you want to eat?”
“Anything is fine.” She put down the mouse. A layer of thin mist clouded her watery eyes. “I feel like eating that one you bought last time.”
“That one?” The man frowned. “Got it.”
He picked up his phone and dialed his secretary’s internal line. “Give me two German cheese steaks and a 1982 Lafite; make it quick.”
“Yes, boss!” After receiving the call, the secretary quickly dialed the dedicated line of the restaurant. Since it was a dedicated line, every branch of it had a chef waiting for the man’s instructions and would only cook for him.
“1982 Lafite?” Pei Ge frowned and could not understand the emotions in Ji Ziming’s eyes.
“Is there a problem?” The man’s beautiful features made him exude the charisma of a victor. “What about a 1972 Lafite?”
“No, it has nothing to do with the wine’s year.”
“Then, what has it got to do with?”
“There’s nothing to do with it. I merely asked out of curiosity.”
“Oh. In that case, if you think that the 1982 red wine doesn’t taste good, let’s change a bottle.”
She lowered her head and was almost done reading the file in her hand. “Why don’t we find Red Star’s CEO tonight for a chat?”
“You’re done reading it?”
“Yes, and I truly find that Fan Chao fellow, who started his business from scratch, to be very admirable.”
“Why haven’t I seen you admire me this much?” The man’s eyes darkened and looked at her, his lips pressing tightly together into a sneer. “When do you think you can admire me so much? Tell me when so I can anticipate it.”
“My admiration for you is immeasurable.” Her eyes curled as well as she laughed at the jealousy displayed by the man. “Are you jealous?”
“No, I’m simply exercising my right and fulfilling my duty as a husband.”
“You’re really good at finding excuses for your jealousy.”
“Of course, if you think that I’m jealous, then let it be.”
“You clearly—”
She was not done speaking when there was a knock at the door.
“Enter.”
“Sir, the food you ordered is here. The store asked if I should hand the bill to you.”
“How was it handled previously?”
“In the past, Manager Wang from the finance department handled this, but she was on maternity leave.”
“Is there no other staff in the company that can take over her task?”
“No.”
“Let me do it; I’ll take over her task temporarily. How is it?”
“No, you’ll be very tired; I don’t want you to be so tired.”
Placing the lunch on the table, the secretary stood at one side awkwardly. If he had not seen it for himself, he would never have believed that their CEO would treat this woman so warmly, just like the spring’s breeze.
“Believe me; I won’t disappoint you.”
“That won’t do. You’re busy with Red Star’s matters already. It’s best that you don’t split your attention to such menial company affairs. I’ll arrange for a suitable person to take over that manager’s work. You just have to work on your job.”
Beads of perspiration formed on the secretary’s forehead. It turns out that our boss knows how to care for people, too.
It seems that humans do have two faces; the more aloof one is, the more endearing one will be, just like our big boss.
“I remember that the finance department has a lady called Su Mang.” Ji Ziming gave it a thought.
“There is, boss, but she’s only the manager’s assistant. From her years of service, she’s not…”
“Alright. Just use her. If she does well, it shows that she’s not bad. If she does it badly, we’ll still have ways to salvage the situation then.”
“Sir, you don’t want to consider further?”
Upon hearing that the boss wanted to use a junior assistant, the secretary’s heart was in his mouth. “She’s just a junior assistant and isn’t experienced enough. Plus, she hasn’t been through major occasions…”
“Am I the boss here or are you the boss here?”
Ji Ziming’s cold eyes darkened as he shot a fierce glare at the secretary. The chilliness he exuded frightened the secretary into shutting his mouth at once. “I’ll go to the finance department and inform her at once.”
Once the secretary was gone, Pei Ge said, “I believe in you.”
“Mhm.” The man lowered his head and removed the exquisite packaging of the food, which was equally refined.
“Why aren’t we eating out?”
“If you want to eat out, then I’ll bring you out now.”
“No need; no need. We can just eat here. Back in my overseas company, I also ate alone in the office. I ate all, including Korean kimchi, French baguette, and American barbecue, except for the Chinese hotpot.” Her eyes were smiling, and the curve of her lips was vague. As she spoke about her lonesome life overseas, Ji Ziming’s heart broke a little.
“Now, there’s me to accompany you.”
“Mhm. Come, cheers.” The woman poured red wine into their glasses with reddened cheeks. “Come, cheers.”
“Mhm. Cheers.” He picked a glass up with his long hand, his thin lips moving. “Don’t you ever remove this ring; understand?”
“Understood. Don’t worry; I’ll remember it.”
