“Boom—” Shu Hua’s face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe tomato.
That shameless, hypocritical scoundrel!
She forced herself to remain composed, playing coy, her voice soft and sweet with a hint of innocent charm. “Was it… comfortable? I don’t really remember.”
Pei Yanzhou raised an eyebrow. Playing the forgetful card, huh?
“You don’t remember?” he repeated slowly, deliberately.
“Mm-hmm, I don’t remember.” Shu Hua nodded emphatically, even though he couldn’t see it.
“That works perfectly,” Pei Yanzhou’s voice lowered, carrying a trace of dangerous allure. “Tonight, I can help you remember properly. Seems like I didn’t do my job well enough last night, so my wife… didn’t leave a strong impression.”
“Pei Yanzhou!” Shu Hua nearly jumped, scolding him through the phone. “Shut up! I’m out having lunch!”
“Out?” he caught the keyword. “Alone? What are you eating?”
“Japanese ramen,” she admitted honestly, quickly adding, “I’ll finish soon and then head home!”
“Mm, be careful on your way,” he said, no longer teasing her. “Wait for me tonight.”
“Got it,” Shu Hua replied softly, hanging up, her hands brushing her still-flushed cheeks. She raised a tiny fist at the air.
Hmph, tonight I’m not waiting for you!
She would go to bed early, adjust her schedule, and have a good day at work.
Feeling satisfied, Shu Hua finished her rich bowl of ramen and spent the afternoon enjoying a full-body spa, completely washing away the morning’s fatigue.
She had done her part; the rest was up to fate.
Shu Hua’s life philosophy: strive, but don’t force; be laid-back, but never lazy.
Unbeknownst to her, after leaving the Pei Corporation building, news about “a Yale graduate with otherworldly looks who humiliated a strange male applicant in the design department” had quietly spread in a small circle. Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office upstairs, Assistant Chen had already received instructions to quietly retrieve the lobby surveillance footage from that time.
The next morning at 10 a.m., Shu Hua was lounging in her huge living room sofa in soft pajamas, holding a bowl of sparkling grapes, watching the latest variety show.
Suddenly, a new email notification popped up on her tablet.
Lazily, she tapped it open.
“Pei Corporation Offer Letter”—the bold black font jumped into view.
“Ah!” she squeaked softly, her lips curling into an uncontrollable smile, like a mischievous little cat who had just succeeded at stealing a treat.
She immediately took a screenshot and sent it to the familiar black avatar, with the caption:
[President Pei, looking forward to working with you! 🌀]
The reply came almost instantly.
Pei Yanzhou: [Congratulations.]
Two seconds later, another message: [Celebrate tonight at home.]
Shu Hua read the word “celebrate” and felt her cheeks warm again. Somehow, she had a feeling there was more to his words…
She quickly typed: [Just dinner celebration, okay! 😐]
Pei Yanzhou: [We’ll see.]
Shu Hua: “……”
That sly dog!
On her first day, Shu Hua deliberately woke up early.
By the time she got up, someone had already left for the office.
She carefully selected her outfit from the wardrobe: a soft, light apricot silk blouse paired with a pale pink high-waist fishtail skirt.
It complied with workplace standards, while perfectly accentuating her slender waist and graceful curves. As she walked, the skirt swayed lightly, naturally radiating elegance.
Arriving early, the HR process went smoothly. After completing the paperwork, she was escorted to the floor where the design department was located.
Design Director Johanna was waiting at the door, looking as sharp and professional as she had during the interview. “Shu Hua, welcome officially to the Design Department,” Johanna said, extending her hand with a smile slightly warmer than during the interview. “Our department is relaxed in atmosphere, but serious about professionalism. I hope you’ll settle in quickly.”
“Thank you, Director Johanna. I’ll study diligently,” Shu Hua replied, lightly shaking her hand with grace and humility.
Her workstation was assigned to a bright corner by the window. As luck would have it, her neighbor was none other than Yao Zhiyao, the girl she’d met during the interview.
“Shu Hua! This is amazing! We’re really colleagues now!” Yao Zhiyao’s eyes lit up instantly as she ran over, holding Shu Hua’s arm in excitement, whispering happily.
“Zhiyao, we’ll help each other from now on,” Shu Hua said with a genuine smile, already liking the kind-hearted girl.
Their small interaction caught the attention of other colleagues.
“New colleague? Wow, her looks are top-notch!”
“She’s even prettier than her photo! That skin, that aura…”
“I heard she did a joint undergrad and master’s at Yale—what a powerhouse beauty!”
“Looks like our department’s face is being upgraded!”
Shu Hua felt the curious and admiring gazes, but she didn’t flinch. She smiled and nodded politely, her charm balanced with decorum.
The morning was mainly spent familiarizing herself with the company’s systems and departmental workflow—light tasks.
Once the lunch bell rang, Yao Zhiyao eagerly hooked her arm.
“Shu Hua, come on, I’ll take you to the staff cafeteria! I heard the food here is amazing!”
The Pei Corporation cafeteria was indeed impressive, rivaling a high-end buffet. From Western and Chinese dishes to desserts and fresh fruit, the variety was dazzling.
As they settled in and before taking their first bite, a low murmur and restrained commotion came from the entrance.
“President Pei!”
“Oh wow, why is President Pei in the staff cafeteria today?”
“Doesn’t he have a private dining area? Could it be… he’s inspecting the cafeteria? No, I just want to eat in peace!”
Shu Hua’s heart skipped. She quickly lowered her head, letting her long hair shield her face, pretending to poke at the broccoli on her plate, silently repeating: Don’t see me, don’t see me…
Yao Zhiyao, however, was thrilled, tugging on Shu Hua’s skirt and whispering, “Shu Hua! Look! That’s our President Pei! Isn’t he insanely handsome? Like someone straight out of a novel!”
Shu Hua murmured a soft “mm,” almost burying her face in her plate.
Could he not be handsome?
Not that she hadn’t been easily swayed by his looks before… the very reason she agreed to the arranged marriage.
Today, Pei Yanzhou wore a sleek black suit without glasses. His expression was cold, and his formidable aura instantly hushed the once-bustling cafeteria.
He and his entourage walked directly toward the secluded executive dining area.
Shu Hua’s racing heart gradually settled, and she exhaled softly.
Nearby, a table of female colleagues whispered excitedly but with restraint:
“President Pei actually came down today! Worth it, totally worth it!”
“I heard he’s married… wonder which lucky daughter-in-law it is…”
“She must be guarded so tightly, no leaks at all. President Pei really keeps her under wraps.”
Listening, Shu Hua felt a subtle, unusual warmth—a sweet, thrilling secret only she knew.
In the afternoon, the design department received a new task: to create initial visual concepts for a high-end sub-brand the group was launching.
Johanna assigned tasks to several teams, including the new team with Shu Hua and Yao Zhiyao, encouraging them to contribute creative ideas.
“This is a great opportunity. Take it seriously and send me your preliminary concepts by Friday,” Johanna instructed.
Shu Hua was immediately interested, diving into research and seeking inspiration.
Focused on her work, her profile outlined beautifully, long lashes lowered, her concentration quietly captivating—several colleagues couldn’t help but glance her way.
Near the end of the day, her phone vibrated.
A message from Pei Yanzhou: [B2 parking garage, license plate Hua A88888. Waiting.]
Shu Hua replied: [I can take a taxi home myself.]
Pei Yanzhou: [Come down.]
Shu Hua: “……”
That domineering dog of a man!