The man’s handsome face loomed close before her eyes. His hand rested on her waist, and the distance between them was so intimate that she could almost hear the beating of their hearts.
They were in the office, and Shen Nanci felt utterly speechless.
This man wanted to indulge his desires without any regard for the setting.
Even with his noble hands injured and bandaged, he couldn’t stay still.
What if…
Someone barged in? How inappropriate would that be?
Did he even care about saving face?
Li Hengyan had no shame and no inhibitions.
But Shen Nanci couldn’t afford to lose face.
At this critical moment when Su Qingnuan had been blacklisted, Shen Nanci had no intention of inviting trouble. She didn’t think she looked much like Su Qingnuan, but that didn’t stop others from believing it.
As for Li Hengyan’s heart-fluttering words, Shen Nanci didn’t take them seriously at all.
She simply dismissed them as sweet talk a man uses to coax a woman.
She wouldn’t believe them.
After all, until just two days ago, everyone with eyes and ears knew how Li Hengyan had doted on Su Qingnuan and how much importance he placed on the Su family’s eldest daughter.
Who in the entire Li Corporation didn’t know that Su Qingnuan was the white moonlight in President Li’s heart? Even the cleaning lady in the Li Corporation’s restroom knew it well.
Shen Nanci had no desire to endure unwarranted disdain.
Or be slandered behind her back.
Accused of seducing President Li, pushing Su Qingnuan aside to take her place, and so on…
Seeing Shen Nanci lost in thought with her head lowered, Li Hengyan’s eyes turned a degree colder. “In my arms, yet your mind wanders to another man?”
Shen Nanci: “…”
She was utterly wronged.
What other man? Nonsense!
If she were thinking of anyone, it would be the dog of a man right in front of her.
Shen Nanci pressed her hand against Li Hengyan’s shoulder to keep him from leaning closer, adopting a strictly professional tone. “President Li, although I don’t know what caused your sudden change in attitude overnight, I’ll say it again: you should take it easy! Remember to pick up the persona you’ve let crumble.”
“If it collapses beyond repair, it’ll be quite embarrassing.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If the president of Li Corporation becomes a laughingstock, don’t take your anger out on me. I’d be terrified.”
Li Hengyan listened and chuckled, as if oblivious to the seriousness, wearing a cheeky grin.
“Thank you for the warm reminder, Secretary Shen.”
Instead of letting go, the man tightened his grip around the woman’s slender waist, pulling her closer into his embrace, openly flaunting his shameless, roguish attitude.
“Secretary Shen must be thinking, ‘President Li is harassing his female secretary in broad daylight—does he even care about his reputation?’ Am I right? With CiCi in my arms, what does reputation matter? There are no cameras in my office, and who would dare enter without knocking?”
Shen Nanci: “…”
A glint of amusement flickered in Li Hengyan’s eyes. “Besides, my tie is crooked. Is there any problem asking my favorite Secretary Shen to straighten it for me?”
Shen Nanci followed his gaze.
The man’s tie was indeed crooked.
Shen Nanci was left speechless, unable to argue.
So—
The dutiful, hardworking Secretary Shen reached out and straightened the tie of the injured, delicate “Li Jiaohua” before her.
Then she brought over the milk.
Respectfully, she attended to the delicate Li Jiaohua.
Holding the milk cup to Li Jiaohua’s lips herself, Secretary Shen spoke with a detached tone.
“Open your mouth. I’ll feed you. Is President Li satisfied now?”
The corners of Li Hengyan’s lips curled into a faint smile as he tilted his chin slightly. “If you don’t want me to feed you, then drink it obediently yourself. Finish it all—not a single drop left.”
“Just a little left, and I’ll kiss you.”
Shen Nanci: “…”
How come she never noticed before how shameless this man could be?
Fine.
It was her own fault for not reacting in time and falling for this dog man’s trick.
No wonder.
When had she ever seen Li Hengyan drink milk?
Just imagining the scene: the CEO of Li Corporation, dressed in a suit, sitting at his desk, reviewing documents seriously.
While gulping down milk.
Hah, she couldn’t help but want to laugh.
Suppressing the urge to curl her lips, Shen Nanci didn’t waste any words. She finished the milk and showed Li Hengyan the empty bottom of the cup.
“I drank it all, not a drop left.”
Shen Nanci lifted her eyelids, her tone indifferent. “Can you let go of me now?”
Li the clingy pest.
Shen Nanci added this silently in her heart.
Li Hengyan let go, but this man… wasn’t exactly honest. He cupped Shen Nanci’s neck, kissed her for a while until he was satisfied, and only then released her.
Shen Nanci glared at Li Hengyan in embarrassment and annoyance.
Carrying the cup, she walked out.
In the bathroom, Shen Nanci splashed water on her face.
After the heat in her face subsided, she reapplied her lipstick before leaving the bathroom.
Passing by the pantry, she ran into two colleagues.
They were also from the secretarial office.
But their workstations were far from the CEO’s office, and they usually handled tasks assigned by Ying Lin.
The two female colleagues didn’t notice Shen Nanci’s arrival.
They were still chatting enthusiastically.
“Do you think President Li really has his eye on Cheng Yuqiao?”
“Maybe. Cheng Yuqiao is quite pretty. The key is, she’s new—innocent and with a touch of youthful naivety. Don’t men all like that kind of fresh, clean woman? President Li is a man, so he’s no exception, right?”
“Who knows? I’m wondering if Su Qingnuan offended our CEO. Otherwise, why would he blacklist her…”
“Shh, don’t say that! There’s no proof it was the CEO’s doing. Be careful if Vice President Ying hears you, or we’ll be in big trouble.”
The two turned around after making their oatmeal.
Seeing Shen Nanci, they were nearly scared out of their wits!
They almost dropped their cups.
“Shen… Secretary Shen?”
“When did you get here? Did you hear everything?”
Shen Nanci had intended to leave, but it was too late.
She walked in openly, took a packet of coffee, and said calmly, “I just came in. I didn’t hear what you were talking about.”
After making her coffee, she didn’t linger.
After Shen Nanci left, the two women were at a loss.
One asked, “If Secretary Shen heard everything, she wouldn’t tell on us, would she?”
The other was also a bit flustered but managed to stay composed.
“It’s fine. We didn’t say anything bad, and we weren’t gossiping about her. No need to be so nervous. Besides, Secretary Shen doesn’t seem like the type to tattle.”
~
Shen Nanci indeed wouldn’t tattle.
She didn’t take what she overheard in the pantry to heart.
After returning, she brought the brewed coffee to Li Hengyan.
Li Hengyan took a whiff and immediately knew the coffee didn’t taste right—it smelled like instant coffee from a packet.
The man looked up, his eyes questioning. “Not the usual?”
Shen Nanci said, “Instant.”
Then, Secretary Shen added without changing her expression, “Your hand injury isn’t healed yet, so it’s best not to drink coffee. If you can’t resist, drink instant.”
Li Hengyan nearly laughed in exasperation.
This was clearly meant to make sure he couldn’t drink it.
Li Hengyan cast a disdainful glance at the coffee cup, suppressing the urge to immediately toss it—cup and all—into the trash. “I don’t drink it. Pour it out.”
Shen Nanci replied, “Alright.”
As she reached the doorway, Shen Nanci suddenly turned back. “Mr. Li.”
She carefully chose her words, her fingers tightening around the handle of the coffee cup as she asked Li Hengyan, “You’ve replaced my work with Lin Hui’s. So what am I supposed to do now?”
Surely she couldn’t just be idle.
Was she only meant to serve him tea and water?
Upon hearing this, Li Hengyan leaned back in his office chair, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He beckoned Shen Nanci closer with a slight gesture.
“Come here. Get closer, and I’ll assign you your tasks.”