After that night, Su Qingyuan’s attitude toward Chen Yan changed ever so slightly.
Not in any obvious way. With her naturally cold personality, it was impossible for her to suddenly become warm and affectionate. Still, Chen Yan noticed the subtle differences.
When they ate together, she would occasionally look up at him while speaking. Before leaving for work, she would softly say, “I’m leaving now.” After returning home, she no longer headed upstairs immediately, instead sitting in the living room for a while first.
The changes were so small most people would never have noticed them.
But Chen Yan noticed every single one.
Another weekend arrived.
For once, Su Qingyuan was able to rest at home properly. She slept all the way until noon, and by the time she came downstairs, Chen Yan had already prepared lunch.
The table was filled with simple home-cooked dishes, braised pork ribs, stir-fried vegetables, and tomato egg soup.
“How did you know I’d wake up around this time?” she asked calmly as she sat down.
“I didn’t,” Chen Yan replied while taking the seat across from her. “If you hadn’t woken up, I would’ve eaten it for dinner instead.”
She said nothing and lowered her head to eat.
Halfway through the meal, she suddenly spoke.
“There’s a project inspection next week. I’ll be traveling to another city for three days.”
Chen Yan looked up. “What would you like me to prepare?”
“Nothing.” She paused briefly. “Because you’re coming with me.”
Chen Yan was slightly surprised.
“I’m going too?”
“Is there a problem?”
“I’m your lifestyle assistant, not your executive assistant.”
Su Qingyuan neatly set down her chopsticks and looked directly at him.
“The hotel conditions there are average at best. I’m worried I won’t eat or sleep properly,” she said evenly. “If you come along, at least I won’t starve.”
After thinking for a moment, Chen Yan nodded.
“Understood.”
Su Qingyuan lowered her head and continued eating, but the corner of her lips curved upward almost invisibly.
The smile disappeared so quickly it was nearly impossible to notice.
But Chen Yan saw it clearly.
Monday morning arrived, and the two departed together.
Chen Yan drove while Su Qingyuan sat in the back seat reviewing documents, handling calls, and replying to emails throughout the journey.
From time to time, Chen Yan glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
She wore a sharp business suit, her long hair pinned up neatly, her makeup elegant and refined. Whenever she spoke through her Bluetooth headset, her voice was calm, cold, and commanding.
This was the real Su Qingyuan.
The untouchable CEO who made countless people in the business world fear and respect her.
And yet at home, she was also the woman who could not even boil frozen dumplings properly, who was terrified of darkness and thunderstorms, and who liked listening to rain when she couldn’t sleep.
Chen Yan quietly withdrew his gaze and focused on driving.
Three hours later, they arrived at their destination.
The hotel was exactly as Su Qingyuan had expected, an average three-star business hotel. The rooms were small, the furniture somewhat outdated, though everything was kept reasonably clean.
Chen Yan carried her luggage into her room before checking into the room next door.
That afternoon, Su Qingyuan headed out to inspect the project site.
Chen Yan stayed behind in the hotel, watching television and scrolling through his phone to pass the time.
At seven in the evening, she returned.
Chen Yan heard the sound of her room door opening next door. About ten minutes later, his own doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, Su Qingyuan stood outside.
She had changed into casual clothes, her long hair hanging loosely over her shoulders. Without makeup or her business attire, she looked much gentler than she had during the day.
“I’m hungry,” she said simply.
Chen Yan nodded and walked downstairs with her.
Not far from the hotel was a lively night market street filled with food stalls. Steam and smoke drifted through the crowded alleyways while vendors shouted loudly to attract customers.
Standing at the entrance of the street, Su Qingyuan frowned slightly at the overwhelming crowd.
“Would you prefer somewhere quieter?” Chen Yan asked.
Without answering, she stepped directly into the busy market.
Chen Yan followed behind her.
Her pace was steady and calm. Even as crowds brushed past her, she kept walking forward as though none of it affected her.
Chen Yan suddenly realized that someone like her, the billionaire CEO of the Su Group, had probably only ever eaten in luxury restaurants and private clubs.
A noisy street market like this was likely a completely unfamiliar world to her.
She stopped in front of a barbecue skewer stall.
The middle-aged owner was sweating profusely while grilling skewers over charcoal. The moment he saw Su Qingyuan’s stunning appearance, he froze briefly.
“Miss, what would you like to order?”
Su Qingyuan stared at the rows of skewers for several seconds, clearly unsure what to choose.
Chen Yan stepped beside her.
“Ten lamb skewers, ten beef skewers, two grilled chicken wings, and one roasted eggplant.”
“Coming right up!” the owner replied enthusiastically.
Su Qingyuan turned toward Chen Yan.
“How did you know that was what I wanted to eat?”
“I didn’t,” he replied calmly. “You’re not picky. You’ll eat almost anything.”
She fell silent.
When the food arrived, they sat at a small plastic table beside the road.
Su Qingyuan picked up a lamb skewer and took a careful bite.
After chewing a few times, she paused slightly.
Chen Yan quietly observed her expression.
Without saying anything, she continued eating.
But Chen Yan clearly saw the sparkle appear in her eyes.
“Do you like it?” he asked softly.
She nodded and immediately reached for another skewer.
The two ate quietly amidst the bustling noise of the night market, the smoke from the grills, and the clinking of beer bottles from nearby tables.
Su Qingyuan ate with remarkable focus, as though she had discovered some incredible delicacy.
Chen Yan found the sight unexpectedly amusing.
A powerful CEO worth billions, sitting on a tiny plastic stool by the roadside, eating barbecue skewers with shining eyes.
“You’ve really never eaten street food before?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“My mother was very strict when I was young. She never allowed me to eat at roadside stalls. After I grew older, I simply never had the chance.”
Chen Yan nodded and did not continue the topic.
After dinner, the two slowly walked back to the hotel.
When they reached the entrance, Su Qingyuan suddenly stopped.
“Chen Yan.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Chen Yan looked at her.
She stood beneath the warm glow of the streetlight, her slender shadow stretched long across the pavement. Half her face was hidden in shadow while her eyes remained unusually sincere.
“Thank you for bringing me somewhere like this,” she said softly. “I really enjoyed it.”
Chen Yan was silent for a moment.
“There’s no need to thank me. It’s part of my job.”
She looked steadily into his eyes.
“You always say that,” she murmured softly. “Is your relationship with me really only work?”
Chen Yan remained silent.
After waiting several seconds without receiving an answer, she turned and walked into the hotel.
Chen Yan remained standing under the streetlight alone.
He took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it slowly.
Only work?
As smoke drifted into the cold night air, he lowered his gaze.
Of course not.
But he could not allow himself to think beyond that.
The next day, Su Qingyuan continued inspecting the project.
Chen Yan stayed at the hotel during the day, then accompanied her out for street food again that evening.
This time, she confidently handled the ordering herself, lamb skewers, grilled chicken wings, and roasted chives.
Watching her seriously study the menu made Chen Yan smile slightly.
“What are you smiling at?” she asked after noticing him.
“Nothing.”
She stared at him for two seconds before looking away again.
On the third day, the inspection concluded and they headed back home.
Throughout the drive, Su Qingyuan leaned against the back seat with her eyes closed.
Thinking she had fallen asleep, Chen Yan slowed the car slightly and adjusted the air conditioning temperature.
About half an hour later, she suddenly spoke.
“Chen Yan.”
“Yes?”
“There’s a problem with that project.”
Chen Yan glanced at her through the mirror.
Her eyes were open now, quietly watching the scenery outside the window.
“The financial data they provided has two inconsistencies. I had someone investigate privately, and there’s a high chance they inflated their assets.”
Chen Yan listened silently.
Business matters like these were outside the scope of a lifestyle assistant. He knew he should not interfere.
But Su Qingyuan continued speaking anyway.
“If the data is false, the project absolutely cannot proceed. But several senior executives within the company strongly support this investment. If I reject it now, they’ll accuse me of being overly cautious.”
After a brief silence, Chen Yan asked calmly, “What do you personally think?”
“I don’t think we should invest.”
“Then don’t.”
She turned toward him.
“It’s not that simple. If they force a board vote, I may not have enough support.”
Chen Yan thought quietly for a moment.
“The inconsistencies in their data, what exactly are they?”
She explained the details carefully.
After listening, Chen Yan remained silent briefly before speaking.
“If it were me,” he said calmly, “I wouldn’t expose the issue immediately. Let them finish presenting first. Then, in front of the entire board, point out those two inconsistencies and demand an explanation on the spot.”
Su Qingyuan froze slightly.
“If you do that, they won’t have time to fabricate additional evidence,” Chen Yan continued. “And once financial fraud is exposed publicly, those senior executives supporting the project won’t dare force the investment anymore.”
Su Qingyuan stared at him, her gaze completely changing.
“How do you know these kinds of strategies?”
Chen Yan glanced at her through the mirror.
“Television dramas use this kind of plot all the time.”
She looked at him suspiciously but chose not to press further.
After returning to the company, she followed Chen Yan’s suggestion exactly.
During the board meeting the following week, the partner company confidently presented their proposal.
Then Su Qingyuan calmly exposed the inconsistencies in front of everyone and demanded an immediate explanation.
The representatives instantly panicked and failed to answer properly.
The executives who had supported the investment turned pale.
In the end, the project was permanently canceled.
After the meeting, Su Qingyuan stood alone in her office beside the floor-to-ceiling windows, silently watching the traffic below.
Her thoughts repeatedly returned to Chen Yan’s words.
That was not something learned from television dramas.
That was the thinking of someone highly experienced in corporate warfare.
She picked up her phone and almost called him.
But after hesitating for a long time, she slowly put it back down.
Everyone had secrets.
Including herself.
She had no right to force him to reveal his.
That evening, when she returned home, Chen Yan had already prepared dinner.
As they ate, she occasionally looked up at him.
He clearly noticed her gaze but did not ask about it.
After dinner, she prepared to go upstairs.
But halfway up the staircase, she suddenly stopped.
“Chen Yan.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for your advice.”
Chen Yan looked at her.
Standing beneath the staircase light, her eyes appeared especially bright.
“You helped me solve a very difficult problem.”
Chen Yan nodded politely.
“There’s no need to thank me.”
She looked at him quietly, as though wanting to ask something more.
But in the end, she said nothing and went upstairs.
Chen Yan remained standing alone in the living room.
He knew exactly what she wanted to ask.
How could an ordinary lifestyle assistant understand corporate strategy so well?
But he still could not tell her the truth.
At least not yet.
Late that night, a violent thunderstorm swept across the valley.
A loud crash of thunder woke Chen Yan from sleep.
Lying in bed, he listened to the heavy rain striking the windows.
His thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to many years ago.
Back then, he had also spent countless nights listening to thunder and rain like this.
At that time, he still had a family.
And later, everything was destroyed.
Chen Yan closed his eyes tightly and forced the memories back down.
Just then, soft footsteps sounded outside his room.
Then came a light knock on the door.
It was gentle and hesitant, exactly like the previous stormy night.
Chen Yan got out of bed and opened the door.
Standing in the dim hallway was Su Qingyuan, hugging a white pillow tightly against her chest.
She wore a white nightdress, her long hair loose over her shoulders, her face completely bare of makeup.
Without her usual cold elegance, she looked several years younger.
“There’s thunder again,” she said softly.
Chen Yan stepped aside and let her enter.
She walked inside and sat quietly on the edge of his bed while hugging her pillow.
Chen Yan pulled over a chair and sat across from her.
Another loud crash of thunder echoed outside.
But this time, she did not tremble.
Instead, she simply stared at him silently.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked gently.
She shook her head.
“Then why are you awake?”
After a long silence, she answered quietly.
“I was thinking.”
“About what?”
She lifted her eyes and looked directly at him.
“About you.”
Chen Yan paused.
Su Qingyuan continued calmly.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of person you really are. Why do you understand business strategy so well? Why are your methods so experienced and precise? And why would someone like you choose to live here as a mere lifestyle assistant?”
Chen Yan did not answer.
She looked at him steadily.
“You have secrets, don’t you?”
Silence filled the room.
After a long while, Chen Yan finally nodded.
“I do.”
She waited for him to continue.
But he said nothing more.
And she chose not to force him.
Outside, lightning flashed across the sky, followed instantly by another deafening thunderclap.
Yet Su Qingyuan remained completely calm, her eyes fixed only on him.
After a very long silence, she spoke softly.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Chen Yan looked at her quietly.
“Everyone has secrets,” she said gently. “I have mine too. If one day you want to tell me about your past, you can tell me then.”
She stood up while hugging her pillow.
“Thank you for staying with me tonight.”
With her back facing him, she opened the door and left the room.
Chen Yan remained seated there quietly, staring at the closed door.
Outside, the thunder gradually faded into the distance.
Only the rain continued falling endlessly.
Chen Yan slowly lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes.
But his thoughts remained fixed on the two words she had spoken earlier.
About you.