By the time Chi Ruanli came out of the president’s office, it was already close to two o’clock.
She hurried along, lowering her head as she adjusted her collar while jogging toward the Executive Office Department.
Just as she reached the entrance, she collided head-on with someone approaching from the opposite direction.
“Ouch!”
Two delicate cries rang out simultaneously.
The two women rubbed their foreheads in exactly the same manner.
But when they clearly saw each other’s appearance, their greetings froze on their lips.
Their lips were swollen and rosy, their faces flushed pink. Both wore the unmistakable look of women who had just been thoroughly pampered.
Chi Ruanli even noticed faint marks peeking out from Yang Yang’s neckline.
Tsk, tsk!
Assistant Jing really did not know how to hold back!
“Haha…”
The two exchanged awkward laughs.
Even as best friends, unexpectedly running into each other under these circumstances was enough to make both of them blush with embarrassment.
Yang Yang cleared her throat first.
“Sweet Pear, is being pregnant with a baby hard? Look at you—your face has gotten thinner.”
She leaned over and touched Chi Ruanli’s abdomen.
It was still completely flat.
Seeing the confusion on her face, Chi Ruanli lowered her voice.
“It’s only been a little over two months. I’m not showing yet.”
“Oh, oh.”
The carefree Yang Yang immediately lowered her voice as well and leaned closer.
“I knew there was something unusual between you and President Sheng.”
She wrapped herself around Chi Ruanli and refused to let her go until she explained everything.
How had they gotten together?
When had they started dating?
And how had they secretly ended up with three babies?
…
“So you’re in love before marriage, but already pregnant?”
Yang Yang’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Thinking about it carefully, that really was their situation.
Chi Ruanli nodded solemnly in agreement.
“Tsk, tsk. You two really know how to have fun.”
Yang Yang gave her a thumbs-up.
“Oh, enough about me.”
The little woman blushed.
“Tell me about you and Assistant Jing!”
“We…”
Yang Yang bit her red lip.
Then, as though venting her frustration, she suddenly began cursing.
“Jing Xun is a complete idiot. You have no idea how stupid that jerk is…”
Chi Ruanli listened in utter confusion.
By the end of it, she had even joined in and scolded Jing Xun a few times in support of her best friend.
After all that cursing, however, she still had no idea what had actually happened between the two of them.
Great.
Yang Yang had successfully dragged the conversation completely off track again.
That evening, Chi Ruanli accompanied Sheng Yanqing to a business banquet.
She wore a fitted light-blue evening gown that cinched at the waist.
Her abdomen remained flat, and her slender waist was still delicate enough to be encircled with one hand.
The only difference was that she had traded her usual heels for a pair of three-centimeter lambskin pumps.
Standing beside Sheng Yanqing, she barely reached his shoulder.
Even while they had been in the car, Sheng Yanqing had kept an arm wrapped tightly around her slim waist, unable to stop caressing her.
It left the little woman’s face blooming red like a rose.
Jing Xun sat in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, pretending to rest.
Out of sight, out of mind.
This was ridiculous.
Every day, these two insisted on flaunting their affection right in front of him.
Hooking her arm through the man’s, Chi Ruanli gracefully entered the banquet hall.
The moment they stopped, an elegant figure appeared before them.
“Yanqing.”
The daughter of the Lin Group, Lin Wanyue, approached with graceful steps.
“It’s been a long time.”
Her gaze settled on Sheng Yanqing’s face.
The affection in her eyes was impossible to hide.
A woman’s intuition was always accurate.
Chi Ruanli instantly sensed that there was definitely some history between the two of them.
After giving a polite nod, she expressionlessly withdrew her hand from Sheng Yanqing’s arm and silently walked toward the lounge area.
Sheng Yanqing remained standing in the middle of the hall like a pole.
The reason was simple.
Lin Wanyue had blocked his path.
“Miss Lin, hello.”
The man gave a slight nod and immediately prepared to sit beside Chi Ruanli.
He had already noticed it.
The little woman was upset.
“Wait, Yanqing. Don’t you remember me?”
Lin Wanyue’s voice became urgent as she reached out and grabbed the corner of his jacket.
Chi Ruanli saw it.
Her pink lips pursed as she shot Sheng Yanqing a sharp glare.
“Miss Lin, if you have something to say, say it.”
Sheng Yanqing’s gaze turned icy as it landed on the hand clutching his clothing.
The coldness radiating from his phoenix eyes made Lin Wanyue shiver.
Embarrassed, she released him.
Feeling somewhat humiliated, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before speaking.
“I just wanted to thank you.”
At those words, the man’s expression became even colder.
If he had known that incident would happen afterward, he would never have saved her.
His eyes remained fixed on Chi Ruanli’s direction.
Clearly, his patience was already running out.
“Is that your wife?”
Lin Wanyue followed his gaze.
Hearing the question, Sheng Yanqing turned around and shot her a warning look.
His voice was icy.
“No.”
Then he immediately strode toward Chi Ruanli.
The moment he sat down beside the little woman, he heard a soft snort.
Chi Ruanli stood up and moved to another seat, putting as much distance between them as possible.
Sheng Yanqing did not rush after her.
Instead, he called Jing Xun over.
“Arrange for a few people to keep an eye on Lin Wanyue.”
“She’s back?”
Jing Xun looked genuinely surprised upon hearing the name.
“I just ran into her.”
Sheng Yanqing rubbed his temples while keeping his eyes firmly on Chi Ruanli, refusing to let her leave his sight.
“Damn it. She’s still obsessed with you. That crazy woman.”
Jing Xun spat out the words.
Then he glanced toward Chi Ruanli.
“What about over here? Should we arrange protection for her too?”
The man’s brows furrowed in irritation.
Looking over at the little woman and seeing her holding a glass of juice while taking small sips, his expression softened slightly.
“Do it.”
Her safety was the most important thing.
For the entire evening, Sheng Yanqing stayed beside Chi Ruanli in the lounge area.
He declined invitations from all the other company presidents.
Even when the little woman went to the restroom, he personally escorted her to the entrance.
However, that was precisely when the incident occurred.
“Miss Chi.”
As soon as Chi Ruanli stepped out of a restroom stall, she saw Lin Wanyue standing by the sink.
She had clearly been waiting there.
“Hello, Miss Lin.”
After greeting her, Chi Ruanli washed her hands and prepared to leave.
Sheng Yanqing was still waiting outside.
But an arm suddenly blocked her path.
“Miss Lin, what is this supposed to mean?”
The little woman looked baffled.
What exactly was Lin Wanyue trying to do?
“What is your relationship with Yanqing?”
Lin Wanyue smiled.
Yet her eyes were filled with cold hostility.
Chi Ruanli immediately sensed that something was wrong.
“I’m President Sheng’s secretary.”
The little woman took several steps backward, maintaining a safe distance.
“You’re lying!”
Lin Wanyue’s face twisted.
“He spent the entire evening staring at you!”
She glared viciously at Chi Ruanli.
“You shouldn’t exist.
“If you disappeared, his eyes would only have room for me!”
Then she screamed,
“Go die!”
“Sheng Yanqing!”
Hearing her cry, Sheng Yanqing rushed inside.
Without hesitation, he kicked Lin Wanyue hard, sending her flying to the ground.
The knife in her hand clattered onto the floor.
It had been only two centimeters away from plunging into Chi Ruanli’s chest.
“Baby Ruan, are you hurt?”
Sheng Yanqing pulled the little woman, who had collapsed onto the floor, tightly into his arms.
His voice trembled with lingering fear.
He did not dare imagine what might have happened if he had arrived even one second later.
Chi Ruanli clutched tightly at his collar.
She had clearly been terrified.
After Lin Wanyue had been subdued, Jing Xun looked toward Sheng Yanqing.
How should they handle her?
Sheng Yanqing’s gaze met Lin Wanyue’s.
There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes.
“Lock her up.”