In the hallway outside the CEO’s office, Wen Yirou carried a thermal bag, her footsteps light and quick.
Today, she had deliberately worn a newly bought apricot-colored dress, carefully pinned her hair into a bun, and applied delicate light makeup.
Inside the thermal bag were cordyceps flower chicken soup, sweet and sour spare ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and crab roe tofu.
Over the past six months, she had figured out all his tastes.
He had a bad stomach and couldn’t eat spicy food. He preferred light flavors, and the soup had to be simmered for a full three hours.
He was busy with work and often forgot to eat, so she would find ways to bring him food.
Her mother had said, to capture a man, first capture his stomach.
Wen Yirou deeply believed this.
When she reached the office door, Cheng Yu happened to be coming out.
“Miss Wen.” Cheng Yu stopped in his tracks.
Wen Yirou smiled gently. “Special Assistant Cheng, is Linzhou in? I’ve brought him lunch.”
“President Fu is in the reception room. He has a guest,” Cheng Yu said.
“A guest?” An inexplicable tightness gripped Wen Yirou’s heart. “Who?”
“Miss Su Qingsi. Today is her first day reporting to the company.”
The smile on Wen Yirou’s face froze.
Su Qingsi?
She’s reporting to the company? What does that mean?
“Her? Coming to work?” Wen Yirou’s smile faded.
“Yes, President Su asked President Fu to look after her, to let Miss Su gain some experience for a while,” Cheng Yu answered matter-of-factly.
Wen Yirou tightened her grip on the thermal bag’s handle.
The eldest daughter of the Su Family needed to gain experience at Fu Corporation?
This was clearly an excuse—an excuse for Fu Linzhou to keep her by his side, to look at that face every day.
“I’ll go in and take a look.” Wen Yirou said as she moved to push the door open.
Cheng Yu stepped in front of her. “Miss Wen, President Fu is discussing business. Could you perhaps—”
“I’m his girlfriend.” Wen Yirou raised her head, her eyes already a little red.
“I’m bringing him food. Do I still need to wait?”
Cheng Yu was silent for a second, then stepped aside.
Wen Yirou pushed open the reception room door.
Inside, Fu Linzhou had his head lowered, and Su Qingsi was looking up at him, her neck snowy white—a silent ambiguity.
Hearing the door open, they both turned their heads at the same time.
Wen Yirou saw the look in Fu Linzhou’s eyes that he hadn’t had time to retract.
Deep, complex, carrying an emotion she couldn’t understand—one that existed only for Su Qingsi.
And when Su Qingsi saw her, she widened her eyes slightly, appearing somewhat surprised, then curved her eyes and gave her a gentle nod.
That posture was so natural and poised that it made Wen Yirou, the one who had suddenly barged in, seem out of place.
Wen Yirou stepped forward and raised the thermal bag a little higher. “Linzhou, I’ve brought you lunch.”
Fu Linzhou’s brow furrowed. “Why did you come?”
A stab pierced Wen Yirou’s heart.
Why did he use that tone? Impatient, cold, as if her coming was so ill-timed.
“I made you soup.” Her voice dropped.
“Your stomach isn’t good. I was afraid you’d just eat something random again at noon—”
“The company has a cafeteria. You don’t need to make a special trip.” Fu Linzhou cut her off, his voice carrying little warmth.
Wen Yirou’s eyes reddened.
She looked at him, then at Su Qingsi standing beside him.
Su Qingsi was dressed very simply today, but that light purple brought out her skin like jade, making her entire being as delicate and lovely as a flower in the morning dew.
And she—she had dressed up carefully, yet always felt she couldn’t measure up.
“Then why is she here?” Wen Yirou couldn’t help but question.
“She’s here to work.” Fu Linzhou frowned, not understanding where Wen Yirou got the nerve to question him.
“Uncle Su asked me to look after her, to let her gain some experience.”
“Gain experience?” Wen Yirou laughed.
“Fu Linzhou, do you take me for a fool? Does the eldest daughter of the Su Family need to come to your side to gain experience?”
She pointed at Su Qingsi. “You just want to keep her by your side. You want to look at her every day!”
“Then what about me? What have these past six months been? A maid on call? A substitute to warm your bed?”
“Wen Yirou!” Fu Linzhou’s voice dropped, carrying a warning.
“Did I say something wrong?” Wen Yirou burst into tears.
“You let her into the company, let her stay by your side—did you ever consider my feelings?”
“How will everyone in the company see me?”
“They’ll say, look, Wen Yirou, the official girlfriend, is still here, and President Fu’s white moonlight has already waltzed right in.”
Fu Linzhou’s expression was extremely grim.
He stared at Wen Yirou, his gaze cold and sharp. “Watch your words. This is a company, not your home.”
“The company?” Wen Yirou shook her head.
“Right, this is the company, so you need to save face, maintain your image.”
“Then what about my face? Fu Linzhou, what exactly do you take me for?”
Su Qingsi stood to the side, watching quietly.
Only when Wen Yirou’s crying slightly subsided did she speak softly, her voice gentle and sweet: “Miss Wen, don’t misunderstand.”
“I really am only here to learn. President Fu and my father are old acquaintances, which is why he agreed to look after me. Don’t read too much into it.”
As she spoke, she looked toward Fu Linzhou, her eyes carrying a hint of helplessness. “President Fu, why don’t you explain things clearly to Miss Wen first?”
Fu Linzhou looked at her, feeling even more irritated.
The more noble and sensible Su Qingsi appeared, the more Wen Yirou seemed unreasonable, lacking in propriety, and unfit for polite society.
“No need to explain.” Fu Linzhou’s voice was stiff.
He looked at Wen Yirou. “Go back first. Whatever there is to discuss, we’ll talk about it tonight.”
“Tonight?” Wen Yirou looked at him sorrowfully.
“Will you come back tonight? Or are you going to keep her company?”
Fu Linzhou spoke coldly: “Wen Yirou, mind your bearing. Don’t make an ugly scene here.”
“I’m making an ugly scene?” Wen Yirou was deeply wounded, taking a step back.
“Which of my words was wrong? Fu Linzhou, do you want to enjoy the blessings of two women? Want to play office secretary—”
“Enough. Shut up.”
Fu Linzhou’s face darkened as he stared at her, radiating pressure.
Wen Yirou was stunned. It had been a long time since she had seen Fu Linzhou look at her with such eyes.
Cold and sharp, annoyed, as if looking at a stranger.
“Go back!” he repeated. “Now.”
Wen Yirou’s rationality returned, and she regretted the words that had slipped out from her heart.
Fu Linzhou no longer looked at her, turning to Cheng Yu: “Cheng Yu, escort Miss Wen downstairs.”
Cheng Yu stepped forward. “Miss Wen, this way please.”
Wen Yirou stood without moving, looking at them.
Fu Linzhou’s face was turned to the side, his jawline taut, clearly suppressing his anger.
Su Qingsi looked delicate and quiet, but her eyes were indifferent, as if watching a loser not worth her effort.
She knew that staying any longer would only bring more humiliation upon herself.
Wen Yirou turned and ran.
The reception room fell silent.
Fu Linzhou stood in place, fingers tucked into his trouser pockets, his expression dark.
Su Qingsi quietly raised her eyes to look at him, her voice soft: “President Fu, aren’t you going to chase after her?”
Fu Linzhou turned to look at her.
She lifted her small face, carrying a hint of caution.
“Do you want me to go after her?” he asked.
Su Qingsi blinked. “I just think she treats you very well—cooking for you, bringing you lunch. She’s very attentive.”
Fu Linzhou said nothing.
Su Qingsi continued, “Even though Sese told me some things about the past, I really don’t remember. I don’t know why, but I just forgot you of all people.”
“So there’s really no need to let those baseless things from the past make you two fight.”
As she spoke, she lowered her head, as if feeling wronged, and also helpless.
Fu Linzhou looked at her, and the stifled anger in his chest dissipated somewhat.
His voice was gentler than before. “If you’ve forgotten, then let it be.”
“Stay at Fu Corporation with peace of mind. Don’t overthink things.”
“As for Wen Yirou, I’ll handle it.”