Lu Li pulled the car over to the side of the road. Regarding Ji Zhichen's question about pregnancy, she calmly denied it. "…I'm not pregnant. My stomach has just been a bit upset these past few days."
Ji Zhichen leaned against the wardrobe, his gaze indifferent, a sneer on his lips. "Lu Li, you'd better not be lying to me. These days, it's not like you can secure your position as a wealthy wife just by showing off a belly."
Lu Li's heart gave a slight twitch. He actually thought of her that way.
She touched her still-flat stomach and said calmly, "Chairman, how could I possibly be pregnant? We used protection that night. The quality should have been good—no leaks."
Ji Zhichen raised an eyebrow. "…"
The company had a half-day meeting in the morning.
By noon, Lu Li brought a freshly brewed coffee into the office.
She placed the documents about Tiancheng that Ji Zhichen had requested a few days earlier on his desk.
Lu Li's gaze swept over the Tiancheng documents.
The Ji-shi Group had never ventured into the entertainment industry, from the past to the present.
And this Tiancheng was a major company in the entertainment world.
She had only just seen the news and learned that Xiao Yaoyao had officially signed with Tiancheng today, becoming one of their contracted artists.
Was he planning to acquire Tiancheng for Xiao Yaoyao's sake, to become a major shareholder?
Lu Li didn't leave the office right away. She decided to talk to him about last night. "Miss Xiao has returned to the country."
Ji Zhichen stopped working, leaned back in his chair, his eyes cool and distant. "Mrs. Ji, what you shouldn't meddle with, don't meddle with."
That "Mrs. Ji" was a warning.
Lu Li paused for a few seconds. It would be a lie to say she wasn't hurt, but she still had to ask what she needed to ask.
"She's back. Do you want to divorce me?"
Ji Zhichen gave her a brief glance. "You can continue to be Mrs. Ji. After all, Grandmother likes you."
She had one useful function—she knew how to keep Grandmother Ji happy.
Hearing this answer, Lu Li's fingers curled inward. She was both disappointed and hurt.
According to his meaning, he still wanted to maintain this marriage.
Because Grandmother Ji liked her.
For the sake of letting his grandmother live out her final years happily, Ji Zhichen wouldn't divorce her anytime soon.
Then what about her?
Was she supposed to be stuck between Ji Zhichen and Xiao Yaoyao, making a fool of herself?
The phone on Ji Zhichen's desk rang. Lu Li saw the caller ID on the screen—it read "Yaoyao."
His contact name for her was "Secretary Lu."
But his contact name for his first love was "Yaoyao."
Lu Li waited expressionlessly for him to finish the call, then reported on tonight's banquet at the Zhou family's residence.
Ji Zhichen flipped through the Tiancheng documents without looking up. "I have something to do tonight. Deliver the gift to President Zhou on my behalf."
"Okay." She turned and left the office.
Ji Zhichen glanced at her retreating figure, then buried his head in the documents again.
**
Tonight was President Zhou's sixty-sixth birthday celebration.
The Zhou family had chosen Mandun Jiudian as the venue for the banquet.
That evening, Lu Li arrived at the hotel wearing a blue haute couture gown, carrying the gift.
"Secretary Lu, thank you for coming. Welcome."
President Zhou smiled and shook hands with Lu Li.
Jishi placed large orders and was a major client of the Zhoushi company.
And since Lu Li was one of Ji Zhichen's capable secretaries, President Zhou always showed her some respect.
"The Chairman had urgent matters to attend to and couldn't make it. President Zhou, may you be as blessed as the Eastern Sea, and live as long as the pine and crane."
Lu Li raised her glass in a toast with a smile.
President Zhou nodded with full understanding.
He genuinely admired Lu Li's work ethic. "I'm very glad that Secretary Lu could come."
The moment he finished speaking, his gaze paused, and he suddenly looked awkward.
Lu Li caught that flash of awkwardness on President Zhou's face and instinctively turned to look back.
There she saw Xiao Yaoyao in a white gown, her arm linked through Ji Zhichen's, walking into the banquet.
Lu Li's faint smile froze instantly.
So this was what he meant by "having something to do tonight"?
"Uncle Zhou, may you always be happy." Xiao Yaoyao smiled with curved brows and eyes.
"Thank you."
"President Zhou, may you be as blessed as the Eastern Sea."
Ji Zhichen took a glass from the waiter's tray and raised it in a toast to President Zhou.
Xiao Yaoyao looked at Lu Li and greeted her. "Secretary Lu."
Lu Li's lips curved slightly as she nodded. "Miss Xiao."
The orchestra invited for the banquet played a waltz.
Some guests had already invited their partners to dance.
"Secretary Lu, you came alone?"
"My date got into a car accident on the way."
Xiao Yaoyao looked startled, then asked with concern, "Is he alright?"
President Zhou also asked worriedly—after all, it was his birthday tonight, and a guest getting into an accident on the way to his celebration would be bad luck for him.
Lu Li smiled and explained, "President Zhou, please don't worry. It was just a minor scrape between the two cars. The other party was just making a fuss about compensation."
President Zhou visibly sighed in relief. "That's good, that's good."
Once President Zhou went off to chat with other distinguished guests.
Lu Li's face turned cold as she walked away on her high heels, her back straight.
She was going home tonight and writing her resignation letter immediately!
Xiao Yaoyao asked in a puzzled whisper, "Secretary Lu—she doesn't seem too happy?"
Ji Zhichen's gaze landed on Lu Li's retreating figure.
He saw Lu Li being invited to dance by President Zhou's eldest son, Zhou Xitao, and furrowed his brow slightly. "She's not angry."
If she could still go dancing, then she wasn't angry about anything.
Zhou Xitao was a man who was skilled at toying with women.
And she actually went to dance with him.
She really had no idea what she was getting herself into.
Lu Li hadn't expected Zhou Xitao to forcefully grab her hand and drag her onto the dance floor.
Since this was a banquet, she couldn't struggle too violently.
This put Lu Li in a very bad mood.
The heavy smell of alcohol invaded her nostrils.
Lu Li furrowed her brows, her face cold. "Mr. Zhou, let go."
Zhou Xitao only tightened his grip around her waist, smiling with confidence. "Secretary Lu, how about considering a transfer to Zhoushi? The salary would be double what Jishi pays. What do you think?"
Lu Li felt disgusted inside and stated the facts coldly. "You can't make decisions for Zhoushi."
Zhou Xitao only knew how to eat, drink, have fun, and play with women. He merely held the title of department manager at Zhoushi.
He wasn't angry at being humiliated by Lu Li.
When it came to beauties, he was always patient.
His hand lingered, caressing the woman's slender waist.
Lu Li's expression changed. She lifted her foot and viciously stomped down on Zhou Xitao's leather shoe.
The high heel pierced through the leather and dug into the top of his foot.
Zhou Xitao's foot throbbed with pain, his face contorting as he released her hand.
Lu Li quickly turned and left.
She left the banquet and walked out of the hotel.
"Lu Li! Stop right there!"
Lu Li frowned. She should have stomped harder.
Zhou Xitao grabbed her hand.
"Mr. Zhou, don't go too far." She said coldly, her tone impatient.
Zhou Xitao stared at her cold yet strikingly beautiful face, feeling excited.
It was exactly this kind of appearance—cold and aloof, yet possessing a seductive figure—that was so alluring.
He had been craving her for a long time. He smiled and said, "Why bother, Secretary Lu? What's the point of playing the virtuous woman? I'm sure President Ji is already tired of you."
Lu Li took a deep breath.
She raised a faint smile. "Whether President Ji is tired of me or not, Mr. Zhou can turn around and ask him."
Lu Li slightly lifted her delicate chin, signaling Zhou Xitao to look behind him.
Ji Zhichen and Xiao Yaoyao were standing not far away.
He watched her being harassed by another man, completely indifferent.