The meal lasted two hours. By the time they finished, it was already 1 p.m.
CEO Yu offered to send He Yuan back to the hotel, but He Yuan declined.
“Just leave a driver for us, Mr. Yu. No need to trouble yourself.”
Yu didn’t insist and waved goodbye at the restaurant entrance.
Secretary Zhao followed behind. With leaders and guests all around, everyone was talking to He Yuan. Zhao’s eyes darted around, and on impulse, she tried to make Lin Yue look bad in front of so many people. She reached out and pushed Lin Yue’s lower back.
Lin Yue was standing on the steps and, caught off guard, was pushed down.
Zhao expected her to fall hard, but He Yuan’s reflexes were lightning-fast. He caught her.
He caught her fully in his arms, his hands slipping under her armpits to hold her waist and back.
For a moment, the restaurant entrance felt serene and still.
Lin Yue blinked, quickly pulled back her hands from He Yuan’s shoulders, and straightened up, helplessly saying, “Sorry, President He, I lost my balance.”
He Yuan shook his head with a gentle smile. “It’s okay. Be careful next time.”
Lin Yue turned and shot Secretary Zhao a resentful glare. If the occasion weren’t important, she would have exposed her terrible attitude.
Even after getting into the car, Lin Yue was still upset.
He Yuan sensed it but didn’t ask during the ride. He waited until they were back at the hotel.
As Lin Yue was about to go to her room, He Yuan called her over.
‘’Secretary Lin, you’re upset because you almost embarrassed yourself at the restaurant?”
Lin Yue met his gaze. “President He, if I told you someone pushed me, would you believe it?”
He Yuan frowned. “You’re my secretary, so I naturally believe you. Did someone really push you?”
Lin Yue nodded. “It was CEO Yu’s Secretary Zhao. I feel like she might be hostile toward me.”
He Yuan asked, “Then why didn’t you say anything before?”
“How could I? She’s Yu’s secretary, and I have no proof. If I caused a problem over something small, it might affect the project. That would be my fault.”
He Yuan, slightly puzzled, asked, “Secretary Lin, do you really think Zhao is Yu’s secretary?”
Lin Yue didn’t understand the question. “Is there a problem?”
“Answer me first.”
“Hmm… judging by her style, she doesn’t really act like a secretary,” Lin Yue frowned in thought. “But if she’s not a secretary, why would she be brought along?”
He Yuan found her frown adorable and chuckled. “Secretary Lin, it’s normal for your first time at such a banquet to not understand the tricks. That Zhao is just a tool Yu brought to flatter me.”
Lin Yue’s mouth dropped open, her eyes wide. “You mean… Zhao is… is… here to…”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
He Yuan was amused by her reaction. “Yes. To flirt with me. So if this happens again, Secretary Lin, you won’t mind if I use you as an excuse to block it, right?”
Lin Yue shook her head frantically. “No, no, I don’t mind.”
So she really was a temptress.
He Yuan smiled in satisfaction. “Good. Actually, this happens often. Some secretaries have bad intentions, some bosses encourage it, and sometimes it’s like today—a woman brought by a client. She might even be a college student. Success or failure costs her nothing. If I confronted her aggressively, the project could be ruined. A subtle refusal lets them understand while keeping the project safe.”
“Mm.”
Lin Yue was speechless for a moment.
Before starting work, Qin Yan had warned her that a secretary might have to deal with all kinds of romantic complications. Lin Yue was prepared—but He Yuan never gave her the chance.
Still, it was better that her boss made things easier.
They had a two-hour lunch break. Lin Yue’s room was a standard double below, while He Yuan had the presidential suite.
Exhausted from barely sleeping two nights in a row, Lin Yue collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep immediately. She had originally planned to catch up on sleep on the plane, but seeing the sky for the first time kept her excited, even after landing.
An hour and a half later, Lin Yue’s alarm rang on time.
She washed her face, reapplied her makeup, changed her clothes, and went upstairs.
The afternoon was for inspecting the building progress and visiting Z City’s famous sights, including a lake.
CEO Yu’s style was to mix business with casual outings, rather than boring, endless meetings. Smart people can resolve things quickly; in under an hour, He Yuan and Yu had almost finished discussing the project.
Then Yu suggested a boat ride.
The boats for He Yuan and Lin Yue were the most luxurious available.
Yu’s assistant looked confused. “Why don’t you sit with President He? It would make the conversation easier.”
“You don’t understand. He’s here for seven days. Anytime he can discuss business—but now, I can’t interrupt him.”
The assistant noticed He Yuan shielding Lin Yue from the sun and finally understood.
He looked at Yu. “Now I get why you praised Secretary Lin so much last night. I was worried President He might be upset.”
Yu smiled. “Even heroes struggle when faced with a beauty.”
The assistant said, “I could believe others messing with their secretary, but He Yuan doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”
Yu tapped his assistant. “Who said it’s just a game? Look at him. He clearly cares for his secretary. Personal and professional matters shouldn’t mix, but love is love. This secretary is fresh out of college—competent, but naive. She doesn’t see how He Yuan feels. Mark my words, she’ll end up completely under his control, probably even helping him count his money. He’s not as gentle as he appears.”
“Mr. Yu, you know him well?”
“In business, only a few truly thrive.”
At that moment, Lin Yue’s laughter rang out—clear and sweet like bells in the wind.
He Yuan, acting childlike, held a bubble gun and aimed it at his secretary. Lin Yue couldn’t dodge, so she grabbed another bubble gun to retaliate.
Since her boss was playing along, Lin Yue felt free to have fun too.