Chaрtеr 5: Fighting fоr thе Сontract Wifе 5
Аfter greеting the emрlоуееs in thе seсrеtаriat with hеr usual gеntleness, Не Chuуa соmрosеd hеrself аnd knосkеd оn thе dоor оf the СЕO’s office.
“Сomе in.”
It was still thе sаmе stеady аnd restrainеd mаlе vоicе, no diffеrent from usuаl.
Не Сhuуa рushed the doоr ореn with а smile. The nеw рrоjeсt she wаs in chargе оf wаs сurrently thе mоst importаnt one fоr thе Хiе Grouр, sо she could directly discuss it with Хie Yаnqing.
Shе hаd рut in sо much еffort just to stand bу his side…
Нe Сhuyа kept her eyes forward, yet she took in the entire office at a glance.
There was no sign of any woman.
“Mr. Xie, this is the new proposal submitted by the design department last night. Please take a look and see if there are any areas that need improvement.”
He Chuya handed over the document, using the opportunity to observe Xie Yanqing’s expression.
For some reason, she felt he seemed somewhat distracted while flipping through the file.
His gaze occasionally drifted toward the restroom.
He Chuya’s body tensed up—a sense of crisis she had never felt before.
But…
There had been rumors within the company that Xie Yanqing and Shen Jiaojiao were merely in a business marriage, with no real feelings between them…
Xie Yanqing closed the file, his tone calm yet authoritative: “The proposal isn’t acceptable. Have the design department redo it. If they can’t, replace them.”
He Chuya’s expression stiffened. Although he had always been decisive in his work, he had usually been reasonable.
She quickly responded, “Understood.”
Only then did Xie Yanqing look up. “Go back to work.”
He Chuya hesitated but had no reason to stay, so she reluctantly left with the file.
Fortunately, just as she was about to reach the door, the restroom door opened.
She saw Xie Yanqing’s wife.
With just one glance, He Chuya froze.
She had seen many beautiful people, including those striking, deep-featured, and big-eyed beauties from abroad.
But someone uniquely beautiful like this was rare.
He Chuya felt a pang of disappointment. She exchanged a glance with Shen Jiaojiao, whose lovely almond-shaped eyes held curiosity and even a hint of hostility?
But soon, Shen Jiaojiao looked away. She was draped in Xie Yanqing’s suit jacket, the oversized clothing making her appear even more delicate.
Shen Jiaojiao’s tone carried a hint of complaint: “I told you I wasn’t hungry. It’s freezing in here—I don’t want to stay and have lunch with you.”
As soon as she entered, the blast of cold air from the air conditioner made her sneeze twice. Xie Yanqing naturally draped his suit over her and asked her to wait for him in the restroom.
Shen Jiaojiao grew bored and came out.
And then she saw He Chuya, the “ex-girlfriend,” which stirred a momentary jealousy, making her tone less gentle than usual.
Xie Yanqing’s lips unconsciously curved upward. His previously furrowed brows relaxed, and even his calm eyes lit up with amusement.
Was she jealous?
How adorable.
Xie Yanqing knew that Shen Jiaojiao had investigated him before their marriage, so she must have mistaken He Chuya for his “ex-girlfriend.”
His voice softened. “Then let’s eat out later. What would you like? Cantonese, Western, or Su cuisine?”
Shen Jiaojiao, clutching the dark gray suit with her slender, pale hands, walked over and sat on the sofa. “Aunt Zhang already prepared lunch for you. It would be a waste not to eat it.”
Xie Yanqing fell silent for a moment. Miscalculation—how could he have forgotten to tell Aunt Zhang not to cook?
But without the excuse of delivering food, Shen Jiaojiao wouldn’t have come to see him.Xie Yanqing pursed his lips, his well-defined fingers tugging at his tie. “…Alright, then we’ll have a meal together next time.”
He Chuyah’s heart ached with bitterness. Throughout four years of university, she had silently harbored a crush on Xie Yanqing for all four years, believing she understood him to some extent.
But seeing Xie Yanqing’s emotions fluctuate because of Shen Jiaojiao, He Chuyah only felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
The sour, painful emotions made it impossible for her to stay in this space any longer. He Chuyah practically fled in defeat.
Perhaps someone who never belonged to her in the first place would never run toward her.
It was her own delusion, thinking she could pluck the moon from the sky.
He Chuyah’s departure made Shen Jiaojiao curl the corners of her lips. She casually agreed, “Sure.”
Xie Yanqing listened to her soft, sweet voice, his gaze involuntarily drifting to those rosy lips.
That itchy feeling in his throat returned.
Fortunately, Assistant Li came over to inform Xie Yanqing that he needed to attend a meeting, diverting his attention.
Before leaving, Xie Yanqing instructed his secretary to prepare plenty of food and drinks for Shen Jiaojiao. “Jiao… Jiaojiao, please have a seat. I’ll be back soon.”
This was the first time he had called her by her name—Jiaojiao. It sounded so lovely.
Shen Jiaojiao nodded casually. Seeing Xie Yanqing’s ears turn red, she asked in confusion, “Are you feeling hot?”
She glanced at the weather outside. Although it was midsummer, the sky was overcast, as if rain was about to fall.
Xie Yanqing uncomfortably averted his gaze and cleared his throat. “Very hot. Assistant Li, lower the air conditioning a bit more.”
Assistant Li: …
Why was he here? The temperature was already set to 16 degrees.
Being an employee wasn’t easy. “Yes, Mr. Xie.”
After the two left, Shen Jiaojiao casually wandered around Xie Yanqing’s office. Its style was just like the man himself—steady and reserved.
Little Black Ball came online. “Host, you need to go to where Xie Yanqing is holding the meeting. Later, the female lead will accidentally fall onto him. You must rush over, pull them apart, and confront her.”
Shen Jiaojiao’s eyes flickered. “Have you been watching me all along? I’m so touched.”
“Of course not!” Little Black Ball’s voice was loud before softening. “I don’t care about you. Games are more fun. I only appear to remind you when it’s time for your plot points.”
“Alright then.”
“Hmph, I’m going back to playing games. 886.”
Shen Jiaojiao smiled sweetly. “Bye-bye.”
Only when she felt the presence that had been watching her disappear did Shen Jiaojiao’s smile fade.
Yes, she could sense it when Little Black Ball was observing her.
Perhaps dying once had changed her soul in some way?
In any case, it was a good thing.
After all, she had no intention of ending up as tragically as the original story’s villainess.
After playing on her phone for a while, Shen Jiaojiao left the CEO’s office, asked an employee outside where Xie Yanqing was holding the meeting, and headed over.
The meeting room had transparent glass walls. Shen Jiaojiao saw He Chuyah stumble as she stepped onto the stage, her entire body about to fall uncontrollably, just as she had the night before.
Xie Yanqing instinctively moved to catch her—a natural reaction to seeing someone fall.
But remembering the warmth and softness from the previous night, Xie Yanqing extended his hand and pushed Assistant Li, who was standing nearby.
A bewildered Assistant Li caught the startled He Chuyah.
Shen Jiaojiao had already rushed in. Pointing at He Chuyah, she exclaimed loudly, “You…”Before she could finish her sentence, she blinked in a daze after seeing the situation before her, under the puzzled gazes of Xie Yanqing and a group of employees.
Shen Jiaojiao took a breath, smiled, stepped forward, and took He Chuya’s hand to steady her: “You silly little thing, how could you be so careless? It wouldn’t be good if you fell.”