Yan Shangning was not skilled at pursuing someone. Her attempts at conversation were awkward and halting, and though she tried hard to appear relaxed and at ease, she found it even more difficult than negotiating a business deal.
When they finally ran out of things to say, Yan Shangning brought up a recent collaboration project. Compared to idle chit-chat, both of them were more passionate about work, their expressions growing serious as they discussed it for half an hour. The meal ended on a relatively pleasant note.
Yan Shangning couldn’t wait to leave first.
It was unbearable.
Dating was simply a waste of time—she’d rather be at the company handling work.
Soon, only two people remained in the private room.
Jin Chen sat in his seat without moving for a long time, his expression unreadable, making it impossible to guess his mood.
Staying like this wasn’t a solution, so Zhong Yi walked over and cautiously asked, “Mr. Jin, how did your discussion with President Yan go?”
Jin Chen shot her a cold glance. “Secretary Zhong is quite bold, neglecting her own duties to interfere in my personal life?”
“It seemed you were having a much better time than I was just now. What were you chatting about with that Fang guy?”
His words carried a strong, confrontational tone.
How could Zhong Yi not tell he was targeting her? She hurriedly explained, “No, it’s nothing. Assistant Fang and I were university classmates, so we just chatted a bit more.”
Unexpectedly, Jin Chen’s expression darkened even further. “You two seem quite close.”
Zhong Yi didn’t dare respond, meekly asking instead, “Mr. Jin, are you heading back now?”
“Let’s go.” Jin Chen picked up his coat and left.
It was already past work hours, so Zhong Yi could leave as well. Downstairs, she saw Jin Chen to his car. “Goodbye, Mr. Jin.”
Jin Chen showed no intention of saying goodbye to her.
“Get in the car.”
“There’s no need, the subway station isn’t far from here…”
She waved her hands in refusal, but Jin Chen’s patience had run out. There was no room for negotiation. “Don’t make me say it a second time!”
The man’s handsome face was clouded with anger, and Zhong Yi didn’t dare defy him.
She obediently got into the car.
Sitting upright and rigid.
Jin Chen gave Zhong Yi’s home address to the driver.
Zhong Yi kept her eyes downcast, not daring to look at him. “Thank you, Mr. Jin.”
On the way, an electric scooter speeding in the wrong direction suddenly approached the Bentley.
The driver reacted quickly, swerving to avoid it.
Once the car stabilized, he checked on the situation in the back seat.
“Mr. Jin, are you alright?”
Jin Chen replied in a low voice that he was fine, though his expression wasn’t great. Zhong Yi, who had been lost in thought, was jolted by the sudden movement and thrown forward, crashing straight into Jin Chen’s arms.
Jin Chen instinctively raised his arms to shield her, looking down. “Are you okay?”
Zhong Yi was still lying against his chest. “I’m fine… ugh…”
She struggled to hold back, then let out a dry heave. “I think I’m going to be sick!”
Jin Chen: “Stop the car!”
As soon as the car stopped, Zhong Yi hurried out and vomited into a roadside flower bed. After retching for a while, she only brought up some sour liquid.
When she finished, Jin Chen handed her a bottle of water to rinse her mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhong Yi took the water and thanked him, too guilty to tell the truth. “My stomach is upset, and I get carsick easily.”
Jin Chen remembered her saying the same thing last time and worried she might have a health issue. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Zhong Yi was so startled she spat out a mouthful of water. “No, no, it’s fine. I’ll be better in a few days.”
If she went to the hospital, her pregnancy would definitely be discovered.
She’d be fired on the spot.
Jin Chen frowned. “You look very pale. I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up and then drive you home.”
“I’ll be fine after going back to rest.” Zhong Yi insisted, refusing to relent: “Mr. Jin, if you truly care about me, please take me back quickly. I want to sleep.”
Her tone was soft and coquettish, as if pleading.
Jin Chen found himself helpless against her.
Once back in the car, he instructed the driver to slow down and handed Zhong Yi a mint candy.
“Have a candy to settle your stomach.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jin.” Zhong Yi expressed her gratitude once more.
Half an hour later, the car finally arrived at the entrance of the residential complex.
Zhong Yi opened the car door, her cheeks flushed with hesitation before she left. After a few seconds, she managed to utter a farewell: “Thank you for bringing me back, Mr. Jin. See you tomorrow.”
As she was about to step out, a hand from behind suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back into the car. The scorching masculine presence immediately enveloped her.
Without a word of explanation, his thin lips arrogantly captured hers.
Jin Chen truly didn’t understand why he was always uncontrollably drawn to her. This woman was timid as a mouse, clumsy with words, and only knew how to provoke him, yet she stirred in him an irresistible desire.
That night of recklessness had bewitched him, making him want to hold her down every night and make her cry.
The man nibbled and sucked on her lips, and Zhong Yi instinctively opened her mouth to resist, only for his fiery tongue to slip inside, stirring wildly in her mouth.
Zhong Yi was kissed until her heart raced and her breath grew short, tears welling in her eyes. Her hands pressed firmly against his chest in an attempt to push him away, but before she knew it, they had transformed into a tight grip on the fabric of his shirt.
Her mind involuntarily replayed every movement from that night, each uncontrollable tremor.
Lost in the haze of passion, Jin Chen pulled the hem of her shirt out from her skirt, his palm caressing her soft waist back and forth, even hinting at moving upward. Zhong Yi opened her eyes, snapped back to reality, and pressed her hand against his.
“Don’t…”
She struggled to steady her breathing, concealing her aroused body.
Jin Chen paused his hand, intimately resting his forehead against hers: “What do you think? Are you willing to be with me?”
Be with him?
Zhong Yi’s heart pounded like a drum, her thoughts in disarray.
What did he mean by “be with him”?
Was it a formal relationship or a lover’s arrangement?
But regardless of which, she couldn’t accept it.
Zhong Yi’s breath was unsteady: “Mr. Jin, I only want to focus on my job. I haven’t thought about anything else.”
“Think about it now.” He insisted on an answer.
Zhong Yi bit her swollen lips, torn with indecision: “I’m sorry, Mr. Jin. I don’t dare to think about it. I truly don’t dare.”
“Why?” Jin Chen softened his tone, holding her close against him: “As official boyfriend and girlfriend, wouldn’t that work?”
“No.” Zhong Yi turned her face away, unable to look at him: “Our statuses don’t match. I’m just your secretary, and you’re the esteemed successor of Jin Corporation. Even if it’s just dating, it shouldn’t be someone like me.”
Jin Chen emphasized, “I don’t look down on your status.”
Zhong Yi understood. For him, even if it were a relationship, it would only end in a breakup. He would enjoy everything he wanted and eventually marry someone of equal standing.
Zhong Yi wasn’t seeking a title.
Rather, she absolutely refused to let her feelings be trampled upon, treated like a piece of worthless cloth that could be discarded at any moment.
Zhong Yi steeled her heart and said, “Mr. Jin, you’ve just been abstinent for too long. It’s only because it’s your first taste that it feels fresh. You just enjoy the thrill, not me. It’s not that you can’t live without me. You could try finding other women—they would make Mr. Jin just as happy.”
“You still want to push me away?” Jin Chen restrained himself, still unwilling to give up. “Think carefully. I’ll only ask you this once.”
Zhong Yi looked at him, her gaze resolute. “I’ve thought it through.”
“Fine, I won’t force you.”
Jin Chen released her.
After getting out of the car, Zhong Yi watched the Bentley drive away into the distance.
For some reason, her heart felt hollow, as if a piece of it was missing.
Was she reluctant to let go?
What was there to be reluctant about?
He was just feeling the novelty. Who he slept with made no difference—changing to someone else wouldn’t matter.
Men were all the same.
They loved the new and tired of the old.
Once they got their fill, they could toss aside all the past affection, sweetness, and vows as if nothing had ever happened.
She couldn’t repeat her mother’s mistake.
Nor could she let the child in her womb bear the label of an illegitimate child, just as she had.