Once again, the conversation came to an abrupt halt.
However, Wen Yue knew that expecting Gong Hengye to fall in love with her right now was nothing short of a pipe dream. She had to take it slow.
Seeing Gong Hengye focus on his work, Wen Yue didn’t disturb him.
When she got bored, she would watch TV. When she grew tired of that, she would tell Gong Hengye and drift aimlessly around the company.
According to her, she was helping Gong Hengye inspect the work.
At first, Gong Hengye simply chuckled and let her have her fun.
But Wen Yue actually brought back a lot of little reports.
“Uncle, let me tell you, Li Rui always keeps his banking interface open on his computer. Every time he’s about to come see you, he checks his bank balance first, psyching himself up by saying it’s all for the money. See how intimidating you are? Even your closest secretary is so afraid of you.”
Gong Hengye: “…”
“Wow, Uncle, there’s actually a couple in the executive office! I just saw them sneak a kiss while working, hehehe!”
Gong Hengye: “…”
“The deputy manager of the finance department downstairs is actually keeping three mistresses. I sat next to him for half an hour and saw him flirting with three women at the same time. When his wife called to ask if he was coming home for dinner, he said he had to work overtime, but he was actually planning to fool around with his mistress! Uncle, the quality of your company’s employees needs improvement!”
Gong Hengye: “…”
Of course, none of these things really mattered to Gong Hengye.
He didn’t actually believe Li Rui worked so hard for him out of love.
Employees were human too—falling in love and getting married were normal. The Gong Corporation didn’t forbid office romances as long as they didn’t affect work.
As for keeping mistresses, it was indeed inappropriate, but again, as long as it didn’t interfere with work, Gong Hengye could turn a blind eye.
So every time Wen Yue brought back these “trivial” reports, he would just laugh it off.
However, he didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm for “work.” Having her inspect things was better than letting her watch brainless shows in the office all day.
So he would just smile at her and say, “Well done, keep it up.”
A few quiet days passed like this, and Wen Yue seemed to have found a new hobby, thoroughly enjoying her “spy” work.
Until she actually discovered something major!
That day, she drifted back into Gong Hengye’s office with mixed emotions. “Uncle, the general manager of the project department… seems to be Gong Chen’s man.”
Gong Hengye, who had been reviewing a project proposal, paused and looked up at her. “Gong Chen?”
Wen Yue’s gaze fell on the project proposal he was reading.
The West City Old District Renovation Project.
The West City area was currently undergoing demolition and renovation, led by the Gong Corporation.
The overall renovation was a massive project, and even a small part of it could bring in substantial profits.
The project Gong Hengye was reviewing was one of them—a theme park collaboration with a sci-fi movie.
The project itself was promising, but Wen Yue had discovered that the person in charge, the general manager of the project department, was actually Gong Chen’s man!
“I just overheard him talking to Gong Chen on the phone in the restroom, discussing this very project.”
“The restroom?”
Gong Hengye frowned. “Wen Yue, what were you doing in the men’s restroom?”
“Is that the point?”
“What did you see?”
“…Nothing at all.”
“Really?”
“Really.”Wen Yue was baffled by Gong Hengye’s focus. She sighed in exasperation, “Uncle, that’s not the point. The point is, Gong Chen wants to profit from this project. If that happens, they might cut corners. But if something goes wrong with amusement park facilities, it’s a major disaster. What will you do then?”
Although she didn’t understand why Gong Chen was acting so recklessly—what good would it do him? As the third young master of the Gong family, did he really need to scrape for such small gains?
Regardless, they had to stop him now.
She added, “I heard they arranged to meet at Yelan. The deputy general manager has already left.”
Gong Hengye shifted his gaze back to the proposal and gave a noncommittal “Hmm.”
“What does ‘hmm’ mean?”
Wen Yue was utterly confused, feeling like the emperor wasn’t worried while the eunuch was frantic. “Uncle, aren’t you concerned at all?”
She grabbed his wrist. “Hurry up! Let’s go to Yelan and catch them red-handed, stop their scheme!”
Gong Hengye sighed helplessly. She really was treating this like a spy thriller.
“What’s the rush?”
He held her hand, which was gripping his wrist. “Don’t worry, he won’t be able to do anything.”
Wen Yue frowned. He suddenly chuckled softly, his fingers gently stroking her palm. “But why are you helping me instead of him?”
“Because what he’s doing is wrong.”
Wen Yue huffed. “I’ve always sided with what’s right, not with family.”
“Oh.”
Gong Hengye’s gaze cooled. He released her hand, his lips curling into a faint, mocking smile. “He’s family, and I’m what’s right.”
Wen Yue: “…That’s not what I meant.”
She had spoken without thinking.
Gong Hengye didn’t want to hear more. “Go watch some TV. I need to finish my work first.”
Wen Yue hesitated. Seeing his profile had turned cold, she decided not to press further.
But she didn’t go watch TV, nor did she wander off again. Instead, she sat down right beside his office chair, leaning against it, lost in thought, keeping him company as he worked.
Gong Hengye glanced down, noticing her head resting against his chair. He paused, then looked away.
~
In a VIP room at the Yelan Club, men and women flirted and laughed noisily.
Gong Chen sat in a corner. Having just finished discussing business, he picked up his glass to drink.
A few days ago, he had slit his wrist. That same day, Wen Xi’s video was exposed, and his family finally agreed not to force him to marry her.
He was free.
So today, after being discharged from the hospital, he arranged to meet someone at Yelan.
Partly to discuss business, but also because he didn’t know where else to go.
No matter where he went, Wen Yue’s shadow followed him.
He missed her so much it was driving him mad.
He didn’t dare go anywhere else, so he came to Yelan. If he got drunk, he could forget.
After several drinks, someone sat down beside him. A woman’s gentle voice whispered in his ear, “Third Young Master, drinking hurts your health. Don’t drink too much.”
Gong Chen paused, glass in hand, and turned to meet a pair of bright eyes.
He froze. “Yueyue…”
But then he snapped back to reality. No, it wasn’t Yueyue.
Yueyue would never call him “Third Young Master.”
He steadied himself and looked again, realizing the woman beside him was a stranger. He didn’t recognize her, though her eyes and brows bore some resemblance to Wen Yue.
Gong Chen narrowed his eyes. “Who sent you?”
The woman was taken aback. “I… I just saw you drinking alone…”
Before she could finish, Gong Chen leaned closer, pinching her chin with his fingers. “I asked you, who sent you to seduce me, hmm?”The man’s overpowering aura enveloped the woman. Her heart raced, cheeks flushed. “N-no one…”
Gong Chen sneered, his thumb stroking her chin. “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter who sent you. What about you? Do you want to follow me?”
The woman’s eyes lit up. “I… of course I do.”
Gong Chen asked, “What’s your name?”
“My name is—”
Before she could finish, Gong Chen suddenly said, “From now on, you’ll be called Yueyue.”
The woman froze, then quickly replied, “Alright. If Third Young Master says I’m Yueyue, then I’m Yueyue.”
“So obedient.”
Gong Chen smiled. He leaned in, his lips landing on the woman’s eyes as he murmured softly, “Yueyue is so obedient.”
At the doorway of the private room, this was the scene Wen Xi saw when she pushed the door open.
Everyone in the room looked at her with the kind of gaze reserved for watching a spectacle. The previously lively atmosphere turned somewhat strange.
Wen Xi’s eyelashes trembled, tears falling uncontrollably.
Gong Chen… would rather find another woman than want her.
She bit her lip tightly. As Gong Chen’s lips met the other woman’s mouth, lifting her onto his lap for a deep kiss, Wen Xi turned and fled in panic.
Gong Chen, why are you treating me like this?
Why?
She ran aimlessly, wiping away the ceaseless tears with the back of her hand. But as she rounded a corner, she collided head-on with someone once again.
Tearfully looking up, Wen Xi saw that handsome yet cold face.
Her lips parted as she murmured, “Uncle…”
Gong Hengye quickly stepped back, glancing at Wen Yue beside him.
Wen Yue’s expression was blank.
She was thinking, just how powerful is this plot? Does the female lead have to keep bumping into the male lead until he falls in love with her?
Sensing Gong Hengye’s gaze, she coldly turned her face away and let out a forceful “Hmph!”
Gong Hengye: “!”
After a moment of silence, he cursed helplessly: Damn it!