Old Madam Jin could hardly believe her ears: “There’s actually someone who doesn’t want you to take responsibility?”
Jin Chen turned his head away, his expression sour: “She took medicine, so she won’t get pregnant. She doesn’t want me to take responsibility either. She has no interest in me.”
She’d rather take a check than play the long game to catch a bigger fish.
What a foolish woman.
Old Madam Jin fell silent for a moment: “Then it must be because you didn’t do well enough, and she wasn’t satisfied. Besides, you really should change that temper of yours. Being so tsundere—girls don’t like that.”
Jin Chen: “…”
Was he really that bad?
Old Madam Jin: “Tell Grandma who she is. Grandma will help you come up with a plan.”
“No need. She’s timid. Don’t scare her away.”
That timid woman, Zhong Yi.
Don’t scare her into quitting.
Old Madam Jin was still trying to fish for more information when a dull thud came from the restroom.
It sounded like something had fallen to the floor.
Old Madam Jin glanced toward the restroom: “Is there someone in your restroom?”
“No,” Jin Chen denied firmly.
Old Madam Jin narrowed her eyes: “Really?”
Jin Chen remained adamant: “Really.”
Old Madam Jin knew her grandson all too well—the calmer he seemed, the more suspicious it was.
Sensing something amiss, she wasted no time and strode toward his restroom, pushing open the tightly closed bathroom door.
Zhong Yi had been trying to use the hairdryer to dry her skirt, but she’d fumbled and dropped it.
Afraid the noise would be heard outside, she hurriedly picked it up, abandoning the idea of drying it, and clumsily pulled on her skirt.
But the more flustered she was, the more mistakes she made—the zipper suddenly got stuck and refused to budge no matter how hard she tugged.
It was at that moment the door swung open.
Zhong Yi clutched her skirt, standing awkwardly in place, staring wide-eyed at Old Madam Jin.
Old Madam Jin was only stunned for a second before breaking into a kindly smile: “I didn’t see anything, I didn’t see anything at all.”
She quickly closed the door and pulled Jin Chen out of the room.
She couldn’t stop grinning.
No wonder her grandson had spent so long in the bathroom and came out looking odd—he’d been hiding someone in there.
“My dear grandson, you’ve really outdone yourself, hiding someone in the bathroom and even daring to keep it from your grandma. No wonder you seemed so strange when you came out. It’s Grandma’s fault for disturbing you.”
Jin Chen tried to explain seriously: “Grandma, it’s not what you think. We didn’t do anything…”
“I know, I know. No need to explain. Young people like a bit of excitement—in the study, the office, Grandma understands.”
Old Madam Jin smiled warmly: “But your taste really is excellent. Secretary Zhong is indeed very likable. I’m very pleased with your choice.”
As Zhong Yi was responsible for Jin Chen’s daily schedule and work arrangements, she naturally had some contact with the Jin family.
Moreover, she was the only female secretary by Jin Chen’s side, and her ability and character were beyond reproach.
The Jin family had taken notice of her before, though they hadn’t held out much hope. Who would have thought her grandson would give her such a pleasant surprise today?
Old Madam Jin’s smile deepened: “No wonder you said she doesn’t like you. That’s just Secretary Zhong’s style—it shows she isn’t a shallow person.”
“Keep it up, dear grandson. Grandma believes in you.”
“You can do it!”
Not wanting to disturb them any further, Old Madam Jin picked up her bag and prepared to leave.
Jin Chen knew no amount of explaining would help, so he could only compromise: “Grandma, please don’t say anything about Zhong Yi and me for now.”
Old Madam Jin gave him a reassuring look: “Grandma’s lips are the tightest, I promise not to say a word. You can rest easy.”
With that, Old Madam Jin left happily.
Jin Chen returned to the lounge just as Zhong Yi had finished adjusting her dress and stepped out.
She felt deeply guilty about the earlier mishap.
But she felt the need to explain.
“Mr. Jin, I didn’t do that on purpose just now. It wasn’t some scheme to climb the ladder.”
Jin Chen hadn’t misunderstood her.
He was certain this woman had no designs on him.
If she had wanted to advance her position, she would have succeeded last night.
“I’ll handle this matter,” he said expressionlessly.
Zhong Yi breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll take my leave.”
Too much had happened today, far beyond what she could handle. She needed some time alone to calm down.
Jin Chen stopped her. “Dry off before you go.”
“No need, it’ll dry quickly.”
Zhong Yi fled as if escaping.
Watching her retreating back, unwilling to stay a moment longer, Jin Chen was filled with anger.
Angry at her.
And even angrier at himself.
Had he really been celibate for too long, to the point of losing his mind? Did he become abnormal every time he encountered a woman?
Everything that had happened from last night until now felt surreal even to him.
Too absurd, too offensive, too unreasonable…
And how could he possibly let a woman affect his emotions like this?
It wasn’t as if he couldn’t find other women.
Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Jin Chen took it out to look.
It was a message from his grandmother in the family group chat.
Old Madam Jin was practically beating drums and gongs to announce the good news: 【A-Chen has finally come around! I went to his company today and found him hiding in the bathroom with a girl, refusing to admit it.】
【This boy has finally grown up! The Jin family will have an heir at last!】
So much for tight lips.
Jin Chen sent a question mark: 【?】
The next second, he was kicked out of the group chat.
Jin Chen: “…”
He closed his eyes in frustration.
He could imagine how lively the group chat must be right now.
…
Determined not to let Zhong Yi affect him, Jin Chen remained aloof and stern throughout the afternoon meeting, not sparing Zhong Yi a single glance.
After the meeting, when Zhong Yi went to his office to report, Jin Chen acted as usual—cold and detached, without a hint of extra expression.
“Mr. Jin, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
After finishing her report, Zhong Yi spoke respectfully.
“Go ahead,” Jin Chen said without looking up the entire time.
Zhong Yi walked out and closed the door.
She felt a sense of relief, aside from a faint, almost imperceptible unease.
Had Mr. Jin let it go?
A man of his status, rejected repeatedly by his secretary—it must have wounded his pride. It was already merciful that he hadn’t fired her in anger.
Zhong Yi let out a soft sigh.
The next day, Zhong Yi overslept.
She arrived at the company just in time.
In the lobby downstairs, she ran into several company executives. Of course, the most impossible to ignore was the man nearly six-foot-three, with sharp features and a face as if carved from stone.
Zhong Yi quickly composed herself and greeted him respectfully. “Good morning, Mr. Jin.”
“Hmm,” Jin Chen nodded slightly, his cold face showing no expression.
One of the directors teased her, “Running late, Secretary Zhong?”
Zhong Yi flushed with embarrassment. “Yes, it won’t happen again.”
Employees and executives didn’t use the same elevators.
The executive who had spoken to her, Director Ye, said, “Secretary Zhong, since we’ve run into each other, why don’t you ride up with us?”
Unable to refuse the leader’s kindness, Zhong Yi had no choice but to accept. Moreover, she dared not go upstairs later than Jin Chen, so they took the executive elevator together.
Watching the changing numbers in the elevator, Zhong Yi took the opportunity to report Jin Chen’s schedule for the day: “Mr. Jin, today’s agenda: from 9:30 to 10:30, you have allocated an hour to discuss investment matters with Hongyu Group. At 11:00, you are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lurong Manor. At 12:00, there is a lunch meeting…”
Her clear, sweet voice flowed steadily. Jin Chen turned his face to look and saw the woman bowing her head, her gaze fixed on the schedule on her tablet. Her long, delicate eyelashes were lowered, and her lips, coated with a layer of lip balm, moved softly and continuously.
She was dressed in a simple suit: a white shirt tucked into a tight-fitting pencil skirt that accentuated her graceful, slender figure.
Her exposed neck was as fair as snow, leading down to delicate collarbones. Further below, the slightly open collar of her white shirt revealed a glimpse of a fair, full outline…