“Finish the financial statement analysis for Xinding before lunch.”
Rong Shu returned to her desk.
Although she had been transferred to a low-level position in the secretary department, Zhou Shan had assigned her plenty of tasks that weren’t part of her job.
And Rong Shu had accepted every one of them.
Her staying at the company, working diligently without complaint, was nothing more than self-deception. Sheng Tingchen wouldn’t give her a second glance.
Once she had finished the analysis, Rong Shu handed Zhou Shan both the electronic file and a printed copy, then ordered lunch delivery.
The company had a cafeteria, but she always brought her own lunch. She didn’t want to go somewhere crowded or have people constantly looking her over. She didn’t want to deal with anyone. She just wanted to be left alone in peace.
She hadn’t prepared lunch that morning, so she made do with ordering delivery.
While she waited, two coworkers came into the office after lunch, chatting excitedly as they walked.
“President Sheng’s girlfriend is so young. She’s still in college, isn’t she?”
“Probably. She’s really beautiful, like a doll.”
“The way the CEO looked at her—he practically radiated tenderness. I never thought our usually stern CEO had such a devoted side. It’s like a real-life domineering CEO and his sweet young wife!”
“…”
The two coworkers continued talking as they entered the office. They noticed Rong Shu at her desk, sitting there like a stone statue.
Ever since she’d been transferred to the secretarial office, Rong Shu had barely spoken to anyone except about work. Now she was even more withdrawn, wearing a mask all day as if she couldn’t bear to show her face.
It was hard to imagine that just over half a year ago, she’d been the celebrated CEO’s assistant.
When the delivery driver called, Rong Shu got up.
By the time Rong Shu reached the lobby to pick up her food, she happened to see two hotel employees carrying dishes and asking the receptionist for directions. The receptionist swiped a key card for the CEO’s private elevator for them.
Rong Shu noticed the bottle of red wine one of the employees was holding. It must have cost around two million yuan. Two million was nothing to Sheng Tingchen—he could earn that in less than a minute.
She picked up her pork-trotter rice and went back upstairs.
At two in the afternoon, Zhou Shan came to find Rong Shu.
“The CEO wants to see you.”
Rong Shu was startled. She had a vague, uneasy feeling.
Sure enough.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere hit her as soon as Rong Shu entered the CEO’s office. She walked up to the desk and greeted him. “President Sheng.”
Sheng Tingchen looked up at her, his handsome face cold. He flung the file in his hand at her face.
“This is the analysis report you prepared, Rong Shu?”
The sharp edge of an A4 sheet scraped Rong Shu’s cheek. She felt a sting and looked down at the papers scattered by her feet. They were the report she had prepared that morning.
Holding one hand to her stomach, Rong Shu struggled to bend down and pick up the papers.
The man’s dark eyes fixed coldly on her as she slowly crouched, still clutching her stomach.
Rong Shu examined the report carefully and immediately spotted several numbers that were wrong.
“President Sheng, this isn’t the report I prepared,” Rong Shu said.
“Enough. I don’t want to hear your excuses.”
Rong Shu clenched the papers in her hand.
Sheng Tingchen knew perfectly well what she was capable of. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hear her excuses. He had simply decided to let her take the blame.
To be hated so deeply by the man she loved was both pathetic and absurd.
She took a deep breath and gently closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she mustered her courage.
“I kept a backup. I can send it to you right now, President Sheng. You can reprimand me after you’ve looked at it.”
Sheng Tingchen’s dark eyes narrowed, displeasure showing in them.
Rong Shu’s nerves were taut. Deep down, she was afraid of Sheng Tingchen—the kind of fear people felt toward authority. Especially when his face was cold, she hardly dared to contradict him at all.
But now she forced herself to stay calm. She would be divorcing him soon, and she would give him what he wanted. She would never set foot here again, and she would never expect anything from him. What was there left to fear?
“Do you feel wronged, Rong Shu?” The man’s voice was like ice, edged with mockery.
Rong Shu met his cold, sharp gaze. Her fingertips dug deep into her palm, and her voice grew firmer.
Rong Shu suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart, and her face went deathly pale.
Sheng Tingchen’s expression turned utterly cold.
“You brought this on yourself.”
Rong Shu felt a sudden, violent pain in her heart. Her face went deathly pale.
Just then, the lounge door opened.
A young woman in a pink silk slip dress stepped out. Her long black hair gleamed, her skin was luminous and pale, and her delicate features were so beautiful they were impossible to look away from.
“Brother Chen!” Rong Shu called.
Her voice was as gentle and tender as a spring breeze.
Rong Shu finally got a clear look at the girl’s face. She really was beautiful enough to make anyone feel inferior.
She had only glanced at her when the man shouted, “Get out!”
Rong Shu looked away, forced down the turmoil inside her, and turned to leave.
As soon as she stepped out of the office, she heard the girl’s gentle, soothing voice. The man soon calmed down.
“…”
Rong Shu lifted her chin, holding back the tears gathering in her eyes.
She went to an empty corner of the stairwell and braced one hand against the railing. At last, she could no longer keep her emotions in check. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and the pain in her chest made her stomach churn.
To cut a man she had loved for eight years completely out of her heart was like carving out her bones and flesh. But it didn’t matter. Everything would be all right. She would forget him completely.
She didn’t know how long it took.
At last, she calmed down. On her way upstairs to her desk, she ran into the girl coming toward her. The girl wore custom designer clothes and looked polished from head to toe—clearly someone who had been raised in comfort and showered with affection.
Zhou Mu was personally escorting her. He was Sheng Tingchen’s special assistant.
When the girl saw Rong Shu, she smiled and walked over. Stopping in front of her, she said gently, “It’s all right now. Brother Chen won’t blame you again.”
As she spoke, she reached into her bag and took out a pearl. Then she took Rong Shu’s hand and placed it in her palm.
“Here, this is for you. Don’t be sad. Remember to take care of the cut on your face. A scar wouldn’t look good on a girl.”
What a beautiful, kind girl.
Compared with the girl, so full of life, Rong Shu was like a clown living in a world of darkness.
When Rong Shu didn’t respond, Zhou Mu frowned and reminded her sharply, “Aren’t you going to thank Miss An?”
So her surname was An.
An Qingyue withdrew her hand. “It’s all right. Let’s go.”
The two of them left.
Rong Shu stood where she was, looking at the silver-blue South Sea pearl in her palm. It was flawless, as pure as the girl herself.
She just didn’t know whether Miss An knew that Sheng Tingchen was married.
Back at her desk, Rong Shu printed another copy of the original file and brought it to Zhou Shan. When Zhou Shan saw her, there wasn’t a trace of shame in her expression. She looked nothing but smug.
“Now you’ve seen what kind of woman is good enough for the CEO.”
Rong Shu slammed the documents down in front of her.
“So I’m not good enough—and neither are you. All you know how to do is resort to cheap tricks. You’ll never get anywhere in life. You’re already in your thirties. Hurry up and find someone to marry instead of living in a fantasy world.”