After dawdling through her morning routine, Cheng Sisi emerged from the bathroom to find Jiang Xin no longer in the room.
She breathed a sigh of relief. The events of her dream would remain a secret; she didn’t want anyone to know.
Just like that night, last night’s dream remained as vivid as if it had truly happened. Every action, every moment with Jiang Zhuo was seared into her mind like a brand, impossible to shake off.
As she got dressed, she stood before the mirror, gazing at her exposed stomach.
Unconsciously, her thoughts drifted back to the previous night—how many times had he…?
Shaking her head wildly, she scolded herself.
Was she going crazy?
It wasn’t even real! Why was she still thinking about it? Did she actually want something to happen between them?
No!
Jiang Zhuo wasn’t that kind of person, and in reality, she would never entertain such thoughts about him.
Hastily finishing dressing, she hurried downstairs. Jiang Zhuo and Jiang Xin were already having breakfast.
“Sisi, come quick! These fried dough sticks are amazing!” Jiang Xin waved her over.
Cheng Sisi avoided looking in Jiang Zhuo’s direction, walking over as if nothing was amiss and taking a seat beside Jiang Xin.
“My brother doesn’t eat fried dough sticks, so let’s finish them. They won’t taste as good if they sit too long.”
Jiang Xin handed her one and took another for herself.
“Thank you!”
As Cheng Sisi accepted the dough stick, she glanced at Jiang Xin just as she was about to take a bite.
The sight instantly froze her, involuntarily reminding her of kneeling before Jiang Zhuo…
In an instant, her face flushed crimson again.
“Sisi, maybe we should still go to the hospital!”
“No, no, it’s fine!”
Cheng Sisi shook her head repeatedly, feeling as though the dough stick was burning her hand. She set it down, picked up a spoon instead, and buried her face in her bowl of porridge.
“But I really think something’s wrong. Ever since you got up, your face has been unusually red. Let my brother take you to the hospital later!”
Jiang Xin said, turning to Jiang Zhuo.
“Brother, I have an important morning meeting at the company. Could you drop Sisi off at the hospital on your way?”
“Sure.”
Jiang Zhuo nodded, agreeing with her. “I still feel guilty about making your nose bleed yesterday. I’ll take you to the hospital later.”
“It has nothing to do with that!” Cheng Sisi blurted out, looking up abruptly.
How could she explain that her flushed face was all because of an imaginary dream?
It was too embarrassing!
And Jiang Zhuo was staring straight at her, seemingly waiting sincerely for her answer.
Even Jiang Xin pressed further, “Then what is it related to?”
Helpless, she tightened her grip on the spoon and said seriously, “I’m really fine. I just need to sort myself out. Please don’t worry about me!”
“Oh, alright then!”
Jiang Xin reluctantly dropped the subject, worried that pushing further might only add to her psychological burden.
Only Jiang Zhuo, sitting across from them, allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to curl at the corner of his lips. His gaze drifted to the fried dough sticks on the table, his eyes gradually deepening.
He had been worried she might forget everything from last night upon waking up.
But it seemed she remembered.
Good that she remembered!
After breakfast, Jiang Zhuo addressed Cheng Sisi again. “Since you’re fine, let’s not delay. Come with me to report to the company’s advertising design department. The design manager has reviewed your portfolio and praised it highly. If you have any questions at work in the future, you can go to her.”
When it came to work, Cheng Sisi was filled with anticipation.
After all, it was a top-tier domestic enterprise, and having this opportunity to work at Jiang Group was something she would cherish.
She smiled and glanced at Jiang Xin beside her, who also gave her an excited nod.
Turning back, she looked earnestly at Jiang Zhuo and said, “Brother Jiang Zhuo, thank you. I will work hard!”
After leaving the house, the two got back into Jiang Zhuo’s car.
Once Jiang Xin was dropped off, only Cheng Sisi and Jiang Zhuo remained in the car.
Looking through the rearview mirror, Jiang Zhuo noticed Cheng Sisi seemed a bit uneasy.
“Nervous?” he asked with concern.
She didn’t hide it and answered honestly, “A little!”
Jiang Zhuo reassured her, “You don’t need to be too nervous. I’ve already spoken to the design department manager, and she’ll look out for you.”
Hearing this, Cheng Sisi felt deeply touched.
If it were Jiang Xin, it would be natural for Jiang Zhuo to ask his subordinates to take extra care of her. But she and Jiang Zhuo were neither relatives nor close friends, yet he was willing to go out of his way for her. She was truly grateful.
And it was precisely because of Jiang Zhuo’s words that Cheng Sisi felt much more at ease.
When they arrived at the entrance of Jiang Group’s headquarters, a driver was already waiting outside. As soon as Jiang Zhuo stepped out of the car, the driver went in to park it for him.
It wasn’t yet time for work, and the company lobby was filled with employees gathered in small groups, chatting casually.
When they saw Jiang Zhuo enter, they greeted him one after another, saying, “Good morning, President Jiang!”
President Jiang, President Jiang.
Cheng Sisi silently repeated the title in her mind. From now on, when she saw him at the company, she couldn’t call him “Brother Jiang Zhuo” anymore—she had to address him as President Jiang.
“Let’s go in!”
When they reached the elevator, Jiang Zhuo pressed the button and politely gestured for Cheng Sisi to enter first.
Cheng Sisi was still a bit nervous, worrying about how to greet the design department manager and her future colleagues. So much so that she didn’t notice the sign above the elevator, which read “General Manager’s Private Elevator.”
Once inside, the elevator doors slowly closed.
Outside, the large group of employees immediately began gossiping, full of curiosity about Cheng Sisi.
“Who is that girl? Why did she come with our president and even take the same elevator?”
“Yeah, that’s the president’s private elevator. Only people from the president’s office occasionally ride with him.”
“Could she be a new secretary or assistant hired by President Jiang?”
“That’s not the point. Did you see earlier? She got out of President Jiang’s car. Even his most trusted secretary has never had the honor of being personally driven to work by him in the morning.”
“We have to find out more later. Our President Jiang is famously uninterested in women, so this is really something.”
“…”
Inside the elevator.
“The design department is on the eighteenth floor. I’ll accompany you down in a moment.”
“Huh?”
Cheng Sisi was surprised and asked again to confirm, “Brother Jiang Zhuo… President Jiang, are you personally accompanying me to the design department?”
Jiang Zhuo was already tired of hearing the title “President Jiang,” but hearing it from Cheng Sisi’s lips suddenly felt strangely different.
“Yes, I’ll accompany you,” he nodded in confirmation.
Cheng Sisi blinked her eyes, utterly shocked inside.
Him personally accompanying her to the design department meant he was sending a message to everyone there: Cheng Sisi was someone brought in by the group president himself. Her status was special, and others were reminded not to mistreat her.
“Brother Jiang Zhuo…”
Her eyes were filled with gratitude, gazing at him like a puppy, brimming with admiration.
He was amused by her adorable expression, and even his voice unconsciously softened with affection. “Remember, this is the company. We have to be mindful of appearances. No more calling me ‘Jiang Zhuo Gege’ here.”
“Okay!”
She obediently agreed, then flashed a sweet smile, like a piece of candy melting straight into the heart.
Ding—the elevator arrived.
Jiang Zhuo extended his hand slightly once more, gesturing for her to step out first.
As he watched her step out, Jiang Zhuo suddenly noticed something resembling a large picture frame falling from above the elevator doorway.
It was plummeting straight toward Cheng Sisi’s head!
Fatherly Instinct