The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife
Chapter 449 - 451. Enxi, thank you for still being alive

Chapter 449: 451. Enxi, thank you for still being alive

Shen Qinglan was painting in her studio. Although Daniel was no longer her agent, he had found a reliable replacement for her and even personally guided them from behind the scenes. As a result, despite the poor impression some older artists had of her for missing the oil painting competition last time, Daniel had managed to minimize the impact as much as possible.

Yesterday, Shen Qinglan had a video conference with Daniel and the new agent, Xu Xiangqian, to discuss the next steps. Daniel suggested it would be best to organize a personal exhibition for Leng Qingqiu on a larger scale and invite those artists to attend.

Shen Qinglan agreed with the suggestion. She didn’t have many paintings left due to being busy with other matters. Since they were preparing for an exhibition, artworks were essential, so Shen Qinglan was eager to paint.

However, perhaps because her mind was restless, Shen Qinglan was very dissatisfied with the few pieces she had painted so far, almost tearing up each one as soon as she finished it.

"Mommy, this." Anan was holding a tube of red paint, the cap of which he had somehow managed to remove; the red paint was all over his clothes, causing Shen Qinglan a headache.

She put down her brush, wiped her hands, and then walked over to Anan, took the paint from him, placed it aside, and spoke to him in a heartfelt manner, "You know you’re not supposed to touch mommy’s things, right?" She didn’t mind Anan playing with paint per se; she was worried that he might put it in his mouth while she wasn’t paying attention. Just yesterday, had she not noticed in time, Anan would have almost eaten the paint.

Anan frowned, "Anan likes it." Children are attracted to brightly colored things, and Shen Qinglan’s paints were very appealing to Anan.

"Even if you like it, you can’t touch it. It’s dirty. Look at your clothes." Shen Qinglan pointed out the paint smeared on his clothing. Anan was wearing a light blue outfit today, and the red paint on it was very conspicuous.

When Anan looked at the red paint on his clothes and blinked, then pouted his lips and looked at Shen Qinglan with a look of grievance, "Mommy, dirty." Anan was a little clean freak, disliking anything dirty on him. A few days ago when it was raining and the yard was wet, Shen Junyu had carried him to admire the flowers in the garden. When he got some mud on the edge of the flower bed, Anan stood there stubbornly refusing to move until Shen Junyu had cleaned his shoes and then allowed Shen Junyu to carry him inside.

"Now you realize it’s dirty, huh? I told you not to play with it, but you didn’t listen, now mommy can’t clean it," Shen Qinglan said helplessly, throwing her hands up in the air.

Anan hung his head and looked at the paint on his outfit, his eyebrows knotted in fret.

Shen Qinglan watched her son for a while. Anan reached out to wipe the paint but realized his hands were also covered in it. His frown deepened, and he looked up at Shen Qinglan with outstretched hands, "Mommy, dirty."

Anan could basically understand what Shen Qinglan was saying by now, and he could speak some short sentences, but he still couldn’t clearly express longer ones.

Having had enough of the comedy, Shen Qinglan took her son to the bathroom, changed him into a clean outfit and didn’t let him back into the studio, "Grandpa, I’ll leave Anan with you for now."

Old Sir Fu was studying chess at the time and naturally had no objections to her request. He took his great-grandson to watch cartoons.

Shen Qinglan returned to the studio and had just picked up her brush when her phone rang. She used to turn off her phone while painting, but lately, she had been keeping her phone on 24/7, fearing she might miss even a shred of news about Jin Enxi.

The call was from Austin. Shen Qinglan slightly raised her eyebrows, "Austin, it’s been a while since we last talked, what have you been up to lately?"

Hearing Shen Qinglan’s voice, Austin’s eyes softened, "An, how have you been recently?"

"I’m fine, how about you?"

"I’m good too," Austin hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up, "An, I called you today because there’s something I want to tell you..."

Shen Qinglan detected the seriousness in his tone and her eyes narrowed slightly, "Austin, what do you want to tell me?"

"An, Enxi is here with me."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Shen Qinglan sprang to her feet, the veins on the back of her hand holding the phone standing out, "Austin, what did you just say?"

"Enxi is here with me, but she’s not in good condition right now. I was wondering if it’s convenient for you, could you come over?"

"Okay, I’m going to buy a plane ticket right now. Wait for me—hold on, don’t tell Enxi I already know her whereabouts just yet." Shen Qinglan reminded Austin, considering that Jin Enxi didn’t reach out to them first after waking up, it indicated that the current Enxi had no desire to see them. If she knew that Shen Qinglan was about to look for her, perhaps she would flee again.

"Okay, I won’t tell her," Austin said.

Shen Qinglan found Old Sir Fu and simply mentioned that there was a bit of an issue with Daniel and that he needed to go and handle it, requiring him to leave for a few days. Old Sir Fu knew that Daniel used to be Shen Qinglan’s agent and that they were close friends. He waved his hand, "Go ahead, be careful on your way, I’ll take good care of Anan."

Fu Hengyi had been raised by Old Sir Fu since he was a child, so he was naturally very experienced in taking care of children.

Shen Qinglan directly bought a ticket for the earliest flight to Country Y. Because she didn’t know the specifics of Jin Enxi’s condition, she didn’t notify anyone. Upon arriving at the airport in Country Y, the person Austin had arranged to pick her up was already there.

"Austin, Enxi, hmm?" As soon as she saw Austin, Shen Qinglan asked impatiently.

Jin Enxi wasn’t staying at Austin’s family castle but at a manor under Austin’s name, located in the suburbs with an excellent environment.

Austin pointed to a room on the first floor, "She’s inside there, I didn’t tell her you were coming."

"Austin, thank you for letting me know," Shen Qinglan said seriously, her tone sincere.

Actually, Austin had known early on that Shen Qinglan was looking for Jin Enxi. When Jin Enxi contacted him, she had made him promise not to tell anyone. He hesitated for a long time before making the call to Shen Qinglan.

Shen Qinglan stood at the door to Jin Enxi’s room, not daring to push the door open for a long time. Austin patted her shoulder and knocked three times on the door, "Enxi, I’m coming in."

There was no response from inside the room. Shen Qinglan took hold of the doorknob, gently turned it, and found the door unlocked. She opened the door and entered. Jin Enxi was sitting with her back to her, her head wrapped in gauze and a shawl draped over her shoulders, not revealing much from her silhouette.

"Austin, are you here to persuade me again? If you’re going to tell me to come to terms with it, then don’t bother," a hoarse voice resounded in the room, bearing no trace of its once familiar tone.

Shen Qinglan’s steps faltered slightly as her hands by her sides clenched tighter. She spoke softly, "Enxi."

Jin Enxi’s body stiffened, and she didn’t dare turn around. Shen Qinglan took two steps forward but then heard Jin Enxi speak, "An, don’t come over."

Shen Qinglan stopped where she was, "Enxi, are you still planning to hide from me?" Her voice carried an almost imperceptible tremor.

"An, please don’t come over. I look frightening now; you shouldn’t see this," Jin Enxi said in pain.

Nevertheless, Shen Qinglan quickly stepped forward until she was right in front of Jin Enxi. Jin Enxi turned halfway, "An, don’t look."

But Shen Qinglan had already seen. She looked at Jin Enxi in shock, noting that her face, except for her mouth and eyes, was wrapped in thick gauze, her neck as well. Her clothes hid the rest, but one could imagine that her body must be covered in scars.

Tears welled up in Shen Qinglan’s eyes, "Enxi."

Jin Enxi seemed to want to smile but failed to do so, "An, I’m still alive, so don’t be sad."

"What did the doctors say?"

"An, I’ve turned into a monster," Jin Enxi said, trying to sound nonchalant. However, her hoarse voice only served to make it all the more heart-wrenching.

Her whole body was injured, which made Shen Qinglan afraid even to embrace her, "Enxi, if you are alive, why didn’t you come find me?" Hadn’t they agreed to face life and death together?

"I was afraid to face you with this guilt, that’s why I didn’t dare tell you. I was planning to let you know once my injuries healed a bit and I was no longer so horrifying to look at. Who would’ve thought that big-mouthed Austin would spill the beans; I wish I hadn’t told him," Jin Enxi said dismissively.

"Enxi, do you know how worried I am about you? I’ve been praying every day for God to keep you alive."

"I know, so your prayers worked. I’m still alive, An, and I can stand before you and talk to you, so don’t be sad or feel guilty. None of this is your fault." Jin Enxi saw the tears in Shen Qinglan’s eyes and felt a pang of sadness. Shen Qinglan was such a strong person; since knowing her, Jin Enxi had seldom seen her so vulnerable.

She wanted to reach out and hold Shen Qinglan’s hand, but her own hands were bandaged like bear paws. "An, I can’t even hold your hand right now. Hug me when I get better, will you? This is the first time I’ve seen you sad for me—a moment truly worth remembering."

Shen Qinglan bent down and gently hugged Jin Enxi. "I can hug you now. Enxi, thank you for being alive." Tears slid down her cheeks, falling onto Jin Enxi’s clothes.

Jin Enxi raised her hand to Shen Qinglan’s back. "An, don’t be sad. You should be happy, I’m still standing right here before you."

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan’s tears almost broke free. Could Jin Enxi, covered in injuries, really be described as just fine?

"Enxi, I’ll call Eden right now. His medical skills are so good. I had such severe injuries, and he healed me. He even removed the scars from my body. You will definitely be okay too."

"An, I’m beyond help." Over seventy percent of her body was burned; with such extensive damage, not even Eden could do anything.

"Enxi, there has to be a way. You have to believe in Eden." Shen Qinglan said resolutely, taking out her phone to call Eden, but Jin Enxi stopped her. "An, don’t call yet. Just keep me company and talk to me for a bit."

Shen Qinglan heard the plea in her voice and put down the phone. "Enxi, come back with me."

Jin Enxi shook her head. "I’m fine here."

"Enxi, everyone is worried about you. Daniel is still searching for you in that sea area."

Bringing up Daniel filled Jin Enxi’s eyes with pain. "An, I beg you one thing, don’t tell him I’m still alive. If possible, just let him think I’m dead."

"Enxi, that would be too cruel for both of you."

"But An, do you expect me to meet him looking like I do now? An, I want to always be beautiful in Daniel’s heart. My appearance now is so ghastly; I might as well be dead."

"Enxi, don’t give up. There’s surely a way. Trust me, I will find a way to heal you."

"An, will the healed me still be myself?" Jin Enxi understood Shen Qinglan’s meaning. With today’s advanced medicine, she could undergo plastic surgery after her injuries healed and perhaps still present a beautiful image to the world, but would that person still be Jin Enxi?

Shen Qinglan remained silent, gently holding Jin Enxi’s hand, looking into her eyes. "Enxi, trust me, Daniel won’t mind."

"An, but I mind." Jin Enxi said, her head lowered in an unprecedented despondency.

Shen Qinglan stayed with Jin Enxi for three days. It wasn’t until the doctor came to change Jin Enxi’s dressings that Shen Qinglan realized her injuries were far more serious than she had imagined. Even if Eden could heal those wounds, Jin Enxi would have to endure a pain beyond what most could imagine, and not just once.

"An, is everyone safe?" Jin Enxi asked Shen Qinglan as they sat on the balcony, admiring the Estate’s flower fields.

Shen Qinglan nodded. "Yes, they’re all doing well. Only Cissily still shows no signs of waking up."

Jin Enxi’s expression dimmed slightly. "I believe Cissily will wake up." After a while, she spoke again. "An, you’ve been out for several days now. Go back. I promise I’ll stay here, and I won’t go anywhere. If you miss me, you can come and visit."

"Enxi, let Eden come. I think he’ll have better methods. I can promise you I won’t tell Daniel about your situation without your permission, but you must let Eden treat you." Although the doctors Austin had found were also good, Shen Qinglan still hoped to have Eden come.

Jin Enxi fell silent upon hearing the words and took a long time before she finally spoke softly, "An, why is it that I can never refuse you?"

Shen Qinglan smiled slightly, knowing that this meant she had agreed. To prevent Jin Enxi from changing her mind, she immediately called Eden. Upon learning of Jin Enxi’s whereabouts, he rushed over without delay.

Just like Shen Qinglan, Eden was shocked at his first glimpse of Jin Enxi. Jin Enxi smiled, "Eden, I’m still alive, shouldn’t you be smiling?"

Eden forced a smile.

Jin Enxi showed her disdain. "That smile is uglier than crying, Eden. Maybe you just shouldn’t smile at all."

"Enxi, let me examine you first." Eden spoke in a hoarse voice, his tone tinged with a sob.

"Okay." Jin Enxi did not refuse. Since she had promised Shen Qinglan, she would cooperate with them fully.

The outcome of the examination was naturally not optimistic. Eden wore a grave expression, which made Shen Qinglan’s heart skip a beat. As for Jin Enxi, perhaps having already known her condition, she showed no surprise, her gaze serene.

"Don’t look so gloomy, you two. It’s just a bunch of wounds. Haven’t we suffered enough injuries in the past? We still made it through, didn’t we? What’s so different now?"

Shen Qinglan turned her head away, the more indifferent Jin Enxi acted, the more heartbroken she felt.

"Enxi, I can perform a skin graft surgery, but it’s a very painful and lengthy process. Do you... are you willing?" Eden asked seriously, his eyes earnest.

Jin Enxi looked at him, "After the surgery, will I still look the same as before?"

Eden remained silent and then shook his head, "I’m sorry, Enxi."

Jin Enxi’s eyes showed understanding, "If that’s so, then just let it be." She turned to Shen Qinglan, "An, don’t tell Daniel."

"Okay, I promise you."

The place Austin had found for Jin Enxi was very quiet, an excellent spot for convalescence. However, there wasn’t a reputable hospital nearby, so for the sake of Jin Enxi’s health, they decided to bring her back.

This wasn’t Eden’s house, but it was very close to the hospital where he usually worked.

The hospital’s expert team was highly skilled, and he trusted that with their combined efforts, they could certainly devise the most perfect treatment plan for Jin Enxi.

Shen Qinglan waited until everything was properly arranged for Jin Enxi, then she purchased a return flight ticket.

On the day she was to leave, Jin Enxi suddenly called out to Shen Qinglan, "An, perhaps Allen, like me, isn’t dead."

Shen Qinglan’s eyes narrowed as she listened to Jin Enxi continue, "On the day of the explosion, I was closer to the blast. Allen was knocked into the sea by the blast wave. We all know how skilled Allen is. He might have lost a lot of his edge by now, but he definitely wouldn’t forget the basic survival skills." Just like her, after falling into the sea, she had instinctively searched for a chance to survive.

"So, Allen should also be alive," Jin Enxi mused. After several incidents, Jin Enxi actually didn’t harbor as much hatred for Allen as before. If anything, he was also a pitiful man who had spent his life in unrequited love.

"I’ve been searching for both of your whereabouts, but I found nothing. I’ve searched everywhere nearby," Shen Qinglan said in a heavy voice.

"Allen probably wasn’t unlucky enough to pass out and end up feeding the fish, right?" Jin Enxi speculated.

Shen Qinglan searched the nearby sea area again, but still found no trace. As enough time had passed, she returned to Beijing.

***

Junlan Group President’s Office.

Fang Tong returned to report on the situation of the U.S. branch office for this quarter.

"President Shen, that’s the branch office’s performance for this quarter."

Shen Junyu nodded, looking at the document in his hand, "Not bad, the profit this quarter has increased compared with the last one. You’ve done a very good job. How long have you been with the company?"

Fang Tong thought for a moment, "Almost three years."

"Time flies." Shen Junyu remarked.

Fang Tong was slightly stunned. Yes, it had been three years in a blink of an eye. Three years ago, she was just a naive girl fresh out of college. She had joined Junlan just to be closer to Ding Minghui, to be a little woman. Who would have thought that now she had become a strong career woman, a wife, while the other person had long left Junlan.

"You’ve been at the U.S. branch office for two years, haven’t you?" Shen Junyu asked.

"Yes."

"According to the contract you signed initially, you should be transferred back to the headquarters. If you come back, the position of Sales Director is yours. If you wish to stay at the U.S. branch office, then you can be the General Manager there. It’s up to you to decide." Shen Junyu spoke indifferently. Fang Tong’s performance over the years was there for all to see. Although these two positions were indeed a bit high for Fang Tong’s age, they matched her capabilities.

"President Shen, if possible, I hope to continue working in Beijing." Fang Tong said without hesitation, as her husband was still here. Although Li Bomming had never objected, she still hoped to spend more time with her family.

Shen Junyu nodded, "Understood, then after you go back this time, ensure a clear handover of your work. I will arrange for someone to take over for you in the U.S. You should return to the headquarters to familiarize yourself with your new role as soon as possible."

The current Sales Director was resigning next month. If Fang Tong returned, Shen Junyu wouldn’t need to recruit anyone else, saving him the trouble.

"Yes, President Shen, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

"Go ahead." Shen Junyu waved his hand, smiling as he watched Fang Tong’s efficient departure. The workplace was indeed a place to forge character. He reminisced that she used to be a young girl who could only hide in a corner to nurse her wounds when aggrieved.

As Fang Tong left the President’s office, she passed by the Secretariat, where she once worked. She thought for a moment and then walked in. Many people inside were unfamiliar, having joined in the last two years, but there were also some familiar faces, her former colleagues.

"Hey, Fang Tong, you’re back," a woman suddenly exclaimed with joy.

Fang Tong looked over. It was her former desk neighbor, a woman who had taken good care of her. She smiled, "Zhenzhen, long time no see." Although she returned to headquarters every quarter to report, she had hardly seen any of these people.

Standing up, Zhenzhen said, "We shouldn’t just call you Fang Tong now; we should call you Manager Fang." Fang Tong’s position in the U.S. branch was that of a manager.

Fang Tong smiled, glancing at the time, "It’s almost lunch. Shall we have lunch together?"

"Sure, just give me a few minutes to tidy up," Zhenzhen spoke.

"No rush, take your time," Fang Tong replied, waiting aside, ignoring the curious glances of others. This place had been too unfriendly to her before. It was for that reason she had visited so many times without stepping foot here. If Shen Junyu had not mentioned it, she probably wouldn’t have come this time either.

Zhenzhen quickly got ready and left with Fang Tong.

"Fang Tong, you really could’ve at least tried to look me up after coming back so many times; I thought you’d forgotten about me," True True said half-jokingly and half-seriously in the restaurant.

"Previously I was only back for work reports, and afterwards I had other matters, so I didn’t stay long," Fang Tong explained.

"Just teasing you, don’t take it so seriously. By the way, do you remember those gossipmongers from back then?" True True suddenly lowered her voice. They were in a restaurant near the company, and it was lunchtime, so it was inevitable that they might run into colleagues.

Fang Tong shook her head. Since going to the U.S. to study, she hadn’t kept up with the headquarters’ affairs.

"After you left for the U.S., the President did a major purge in the secretarial office. A good number of those who loved to gossip were gone from the company. You should’ve seen the look on the President’s face when he was stern – it was truly frightening." At this point, True True suddenly laughed, "At the time, I really thought the President had a crush on you."

"True True, don’t talk nonsense," Fang Tong didn’t like such jokes. For her, Shen Junyu was her boss, her friend’s brother. Even now, from a woman’s standpoint, Shen Junyu would still be a dangerous man and definitely not the type she’d choose.

"I’m not talking nonsense. The way the President was protective back then, everyone in the company thought he liked you. We all were wondering when you two would make your relationship public, but who knew Cheng Yaojin would come out of nowhere," True True said with a look of regret.

Fang Tong wiped sweat from her forehead, "The President’s care for me was because I am good friends with his sister; his consideration stems from a brother’s affection for his sister."

True True nodded, "I later realized that after seeing how the President treats his wife, I knew what his demeanor would be if he liked someone. Compared to you, it’s like comparing a witch to a great sorcerer. But in a way, I think it’s better. Not every woman can handle a man like the President."

Fang Tong wholeheartedly agreed. Let someone like the enchanting Shen Junyu be handled by Wen Xiyao.

"Fang Tong, when are you heading back to the U.S.?"

"Tomorrow."

"So soon? I was hoping we could hang out and go shopping this weekend if you were free."

"Next time. There will be a chance." Fang Tong didn’t mention that she was soon to be transferred back home.

The two chatted casually about changes over the past two years. "By the way, Fang Tong, do you know Liu Hui?"

Fang Tong’s eyes narrowed slightly. How could she forget the name Liu Hui? It was this woman who had stolen Ding Minghui from her. Without them, she wouldn’t be who she was today.

"I remember. What about her?"

"Didn’t she get quite involved with a subordinate of hers at the time? She even married a man nearly ten years her junior, and they had a grand wedding. Turns out the guy was unreliable and ran off with another woman not long after. Liu Hui later divorced him, and I heard that man even took one of Liu Hui’s apartments."

Fang Tong raised her eyebrows. She knew about their divorce but didn’t expect Ding Minghui to be so shameless as to have an affair and take Liu Hui’s apartment. However, she only felt disdain for Ding Minghui and not a shred of sympathy for Liu Hui.

"I heard that Liu Hui snatched that man from someone else in the first place. Although I don’t know who the woman who was robbed is, I’m quite happy for her. She’s rid of a scumbag."

The Fang Tong sitting across from her felt a strange sensation upon hearing this. Well, I am the woman you’re talking about who had her man stolen.

While they were talking, they saw a person approaching. If it wasn’t Liu Hui, who could it be? Fang Tong sighed at her bad luck. Talk about someone, and they show up – speak of the devil and he shall appear.

"Mr. Liu," True True greeted the person.

Liu Hui, however, was staring at Fang Tong. "Long time no see."

Fang Tong nodded politely, her smile faint, "Hello."

"Don’t mind if I sit down and join you for the meal?" Liu Hui smiled warmly.

Fang Tong actually wanted to say she’d rather not, but after some thought, she didn’t voice her objection, merely nodding as Zhenzhen scooted further inside.

"Time flies so fast; it’s been two years already. Your growth has really surprised me," Liu Hui said wistfully, talking to Fang Tong as if she were chatting with an old friend.

Fang Tong raised an eyebrow, unaware of when her relationship with Liu Hui had gotten so good.

"The changes in Mr. Liu have also surprised me."

Liu Hui chuckled. Having gone through a failed marriage, her eyes seemed to lack the aggressiveness they once had, making her look much older than before.

"I’ve aged, unlike you young people, who are like the rising sun, bursting with energy," Liu Hui said self-deprecatingly.

"By the way, you probably don’t know about Ding Minghui’s recent situation. After divorcing me, he married a rich young lady, but I heard they have divorced now too."

Fang Tong felt helpless; what was up with this trip back home, with everyone mentioning Ding Minghui? If it wasn’t for their reminders, she would have forgotten that Ding Minghui even existed.

Seeing that Fang Tong wasn’t engaging, Liu Hui stopped after a couple more sentences, but Zhenzhen, feeling something odd about their interaction, couldn’t help but glance at them curiously.

The meal ended in silence, and sensing the tension, Zhenzhen quickly left after finishing her food. Fang Tong wanted to leave too but was stopped by Liu Hui, "We haven’t seen each other for so long now, just stay and chat with me for a bit. It won’t take up much of your time."

Fang Tong paused in her movement to stand, then sat back down, "Is there anything really for us to talk about?"

Liu Hui laughed, "You’ve indeed grown up a lot; the you from before wouldn’t have been this calm."

Fang Tong didn’t respond to that— it wasn’t that she had grown, but that she had let go. When she no longer cared about a man, the woman who had taken him away naturally became insignificant as well.

"Fang Tong, I think you should thank me. If it weren’t for me, the person ending up in this sorry state today would have been you. I was the one who jumped into this pit for you," Liu Hui said dryly while looking at Fang Tong.

To her surprise, Fang Tong nodded in agreement, "If we’re looking at it that way, I probably should thank you."

Liu Hui stared at Fang Tong for a few seconds, then smiled, "You really have impressed me, I quite like you now."

"But I still don’t like you," Fang Tong retorted.

"That’s okay, it’s normal for you not to like me."

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading off," Fang Tong said as she stood, and Liu Hui didn’t try to keep her.

After leaving the restaurant, Fang Tong checked the time and found it was still early, so she took a taxi to Li Bomming’s company, buying a few boxes of pastries along the way as gifts for Li Bomming’s secretaries.

Over the past two years, Li Bomming had shifted the company’s focus to Beijing, and under his leadership, the company had flourished. Li Wei, his father, had now completely retired, living a comfortable life at home.

"Mrs. Li, you’ve arrived," the secretary Xiao Zhang greeted Fang Tong with a smile.

Fang Tong handed over the pastries, "This is for everyone; go ahead and share them."

"Thanks so much, Mrs. Li, you’re too kind, always bringing us something every time you visit," Xiao Zhang thanked her as she accepted the gift.

"Where’s President Li?"

"He’s in a meeting in the conference room."

"Then I’ll wait inside."

Xiao Zhang’s expression suddenly changed as she remembered something she almost forgot, "Mrs. Li, would you like to chat with me for a bit?"

Fang Tong paused, looking at Secretary Xiao Zhang, "Is there someone in Bomming’s office?"

Xiao Zhang hesitated, "How could you be so astute, Mrs. Li?"

Fang Tong raised an eyebrow, "Is it a woman?" If not, Xiao Zhang wouldn’t be so nervous.

Xiao Zhang became more tense, clutching Fang Tong, "Mrs. Li, let me tell you, President Li has absolutely not done anything to hurt you, it was this woman who came on her own. President Li hardly paid any attention to her."

Fang Tong was intrigued, "Who is it?"

"It’s one of President Li’s old classmates, someone he studied abroad with. She has come to see President Li several times but had always been turned down by him because he was busy. This time, she barged into his office while he was in a meeting, insisting on waiting for him to come out. I didn’t feel it was right to kick her out, so I had to just..." Xiao Zhang explained.

Fang Tong understood; after all, Xiao Zhang was just a secretary, "It’s fine, I’ll go take a look."

"Hey, Mrs. Li," Xiao Zhang called after her, "If you need anything, just call me."

Fang Tong couldn’t help but laugh—did they really think she would end up in a fight?

Pushing open the office door, she indeed saw a woman sitting on the sofa, an overwhelming perfume scent lingering in the air.

This was a very aggressive woman, Fang Tong thought.

Tong Yushi, hearing footsteps and expecting Li Bomming, turned her head only to see a woman she had met once before—Li Bomming’s wife, Fang Tong.

Fang Tong’s eyebrow quirked up, not expecting it to be Miss Tong, "Miss Tong, I didn’t expect to see you here."

Miss Tong smiled a little, "Neither did I," she said, before she realized where she was and added, "I came to see Bomming about something, and as he was in a meeting, I just came in to wait."

"It’s alright, waiting outside must be tiring," Fang Tong took a seat beside Miss Tong as Xiao Zhang came in with two cups of coffee.

Only then did Fang Tong notice there wasn’t even a cup of water in front of Miss Tong.

Xiao Zhang placed the coffee in front of Fang Tong, "Mrs. Li, President Li mentioned you liked coffee last time, so we got some coffee beans especially for you. And for you, miss, I wasn’t sure what you’d prefer, so I prepared the same for you."

Hearing Xiao Zhang’s words, Miss Tong thanked her on the surface, but her eyes carried a sharp glint. She had been seated there for half a day without so much as a cup of water, and here came Fang Tong with a coffee prepared enthusiastically—was this meant to mock her?

"Thank you, Xiao Zhang," Fang Tong said softly.

As Xiao Zhang left, she gave Fang Tong an encouraging look, which amused her greatly. Anyone unaware of the situation might think she was heading into battle.