My name is Yiluo. I am thirty two years old, and by most people's standards, I have a pretty good life.
I have a stable job, a comfortable home, a beautiful wife, and an adorable son. I was never born into a wealthy family, nor have I ever considered myself particularly talented.
It was late in the afternoon when I finally finished my work. After checking the last few documents on my desk, I leaned back in my chair and let out a quiet sigh of relief. It had been a busy day, and all I wanted now was to go home and spend some time with my family.
However, before heading home, I had one more thing to do.
I took out my phone and checked the time. Yue Ran should still be at her office. Since I had finished work earlier than expected, I decided to drive over and pick her up. Although she usually drove herself home, I thought it would be nice to take her home for a change.
After gathering my belongings, I left the office and headed toward the parking lot. The afternoon sun was slowly sinking toward the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the city. Traffic was relatively light, so the drive to my wife's workplace took only about thirty minutes.
When I arrived, I parked my car and made my way into the building.
I was looking forward to seeing my wife. Even though we had been married for several years, I still enjoyed the simple moments we shared after a long day at work. Sometimes, a few minutes of conversation with her were enough to make me forget about all the troubles I had encountered throughout the day.
As I made my way toward my wife's office, I noticed a middle-aged man walking in my direction. Judging by his aged features, he looked to be in his late forties or perhaps his fifties. He had a masculine face, slightly tanned skin, and a somewhat protruding belly.
His appearance suggested that he was a man of considerable wealth. He wore an expensive suit that fit his frame, a luxurious wristwatch, and a pair of polished leather shoes that looked just as costly as the rest of his outfit.
However, what caught me off guard wasn't his luxurious appearance.
It was the two women accompanying him.
One woman walked on either side of him, and he had his arms wrapped tightly around both of their waists. Even more shockingly, his hands were resting on their buttocks, as though he had no intention of hiding his intimate behavior from the people around him.
I couldn't help but stare for a moment.
Doesn't this man have any shame?
We were inside an office building, a place where people came to work, not somewhere to behave like this in public. Yet he acted as though the entire building belonged to him, completely unconcerned about whether anyone might see him.
I frowned slightly, feeling uncomfortable at the sight. I couldn't understand how someone could behave so shamelessly in a professional environment, especially when there were other people walking around.
Still, I had no intention of getting involved in someone else's business. I was here to pick up my wife, and that was all that mattered.
I quietly stepped aside to let them pass, then continued toward Yue Ran's office without giving the man another thought.
I had come here for my wife, after all.
Without looking back, I headed straight toward Yue Ran's office.
Yue Ran is the director of a major real estate development company specializing in luxury residential properties, commercial buildings, and large-scale urban development projects.
Despite her young age, she has earned a reputation as a capable and ruthless businesswoman. She is intelligent, decisive, and exceptionally demanding, expecting every employee to perform their duties to the highest standards. She has little patience for incompetence, empty excuses, or people who fail to take responsibility for their mistakes.
When I arrived outside Yue Ran's office, I heard her cold voice coming from inside.
"Are you an idiot? How many times do I have to explain the same thing before you understand?"
I stopped outside the door, recognizing my wife's voice immediately.
"I gave you clear instructions, yet you still managed to make such a ridiculous mistake. Do you even understand the consequences of what you've done?"
"I'm sorry, Director Yue. I didn't expect—"
"You didn't expect what?" Yue Ran interrupted sharply. "That you would be held responsible for your own incompetence? Don't make excuses for yourself. If you can't even handle such a simple task, then tell me, why should I keep you in this position?"
The man fell silent.
Yue Ran continued, her voice cold and unforgiving.
"Take these documents with you and review them from the beginning. I want every mistake corrected before you bring them back to me. Don't waste my time with another report full of errors. Understood?"
"Yes, Director Yue. I'll correct everything immediately."
"Then get out."
A moment later, I heard the sound of a chair moving, followed by footsteps approaching the door.
I stepped aside as a man emerged from the office. His face looked pale, and he kept his head down as he hurried past me without saying a word.
I watched him leave before turning my attention back to the closed office door.
I couldn't help smiling faintly.
My wife really was as strict as ever. At work, Yue Ran was known for her cold personality and uncompromising standards. Even senior employees rarely dared to challenge her when she was in that mood.
Fortunately, I was her husband, not one of her subordinates.
I raised my hand and knocked gently on the door.
The moment I knocked on the door, Yue Ran turned her head toward me.
The cold expression she had worn while reprimanding her subordinate softened slightly when she saw me. Her sharp phoenix-like eyes were still as beautiful as ever, but there was a hint of warmth in them that had been completely absent just moments earlier.
"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice noticeably gentler. "Did you hear everything?"
I stepped into the office with a smile.
"Only the last part."
Yue Ran narrowed her eyes slightly. "How much is 'the last part'?"
"Well, I heard you telling someone to correct his mistakes. Then you told him not to waste your time with another report full of errors." I paused, pretending to think. "Oh, and I also heard you call him an idiot."
She stared at me for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Then you heard enough."
I couldn't help laughing. "What can I say? My wife is so impressive. Even from outside the door, I could feel the temperature dropping."
"Yi Luo!" She gave me a warning look.
"Yes, Director Yue?"
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Of course not." I immediately straightened my expression, though the smile on my face betrayed me. "I would never dare make fun of the respected Director Yue. I'm just an ordinary husband who came to pick up his beautiful wife."
Yue Ran shook her head helplessly.
"Did you come all the way here just to pick me up? Didn't I tell you I could get home on my own?"
"I know you can." I walked closer to her desk and leaned forward slightly. "But just because you can get home on your own, does that mean your husband isn't allowed to come and see you?"
She looked at me silently for a few seconds.
Then she replied in her usual cool voice, "You're getting better at talking nonsense."
I grinned. "That's because I have an excellent teacher."
"Who?"
"My beautiful wife, of course."
For the first time since I had entered the room, the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
It was a small smile, so brief that someone else might not even have noticed it. But I did. After all, I had been married to her long enough to recognize even the smallest changes in her expression.
Yue Ran was breathtakingly beautiful, with the appearance of a goddess and the cold elegance of an untouchable queen. Her skin was exceptionally fair and smooth, as white as freshly fallen snow. She had delicate facial features, captivating phoenix-shaped eyes, and long, silky black hair.
Her figure was equally alluring, with a slender waist, a flat stomach, full D-cup breasts, graceful curves, and long, shapely legs. Her elegant posture and naturally sophisticated appearance made her stand out wherever she went.
Combined with her icy expression and intimidating aura, Yue Ran possessed a beauty that inspired admiration while making others hesitate to approach her. It was no wonder she was known as the Ice Demon.
Seeing that faint smile was already enough to make the thirty-minute drive worthwhile.
Seeing that I had come to pick her up, Yue Ran immediately began packing her things. She put the documents she needed into her handbag, switched off her computer, and stood up from her chair.
"Let's go," she said.
I smiled and took her handbag before she could reach for it herself.
"I can carry that."
Yue Ran glanced at me but didn't argue. Instead, she walked beside me as we left her office and headed toward the elevator.
We took the elevator down together and soon arrived at the parking lot. I unlocked my car and walked around to the passenger side, intending to open the door for her.
However, just as I reached for the handle, Yue Ran opened the door herself and got inside.
I chuckled before walking around to the driver's side.
Once I settled behind the wheel, I turned to look at her.
Yue Ran leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes for a moment. She opened her eyes and looked at me calmly.
"I'm a little tired today."
Her voice was still as cool as ever, but I could tell from her expression that she really was exhausted.
My teasing smile faded, replaced by a more gentle look.
"All right. Then leave everything to me today. Just sit back and rest. I'll take you home."
Yue Ran nodded slightly before closing her eyes again.
I watched her for a moment, feeling a quiet warmth in my heart. She might be a woman who rarely showed weakness in front of others, but with me, she didn't need to pretend that she was always strong.
I reached over and gently adjusted the air conditioner so that it wouldn't blow directly at her.
"Is the temperature comfortable?"
"Mhm."
"Do you want to listen to music?"
"No."
"All right."
I smiled and started the engine.
Sometimes, being a good husband didn't require grand gestures or sweet words. It was enough to notice when the woman you loved was tired and give her a little peace.
And if she wanted to take advantage of having a personal driver for the evening, I certainly wasn't going to complain.