Chapter 51 Stop Talking to Other Men

Han Qi stood up and said, "Director Zhou."

Yet I always felt his expression was even colder than the last time he saw Zhou Chenyan.

Whether Zhou Chenyan failed to notice or simply didn't care, he remained unphased.

"I've been listening at the door for quite a while, and I understand the whole story."

"Ayan."

Zhou Zhizi walked over to him, leaning against his side like a little bird.

Zhou Chenyan let out an affirmative hum and looked at Qian Yushu.

"Although your intentions were good, your actions were entirely wrong. The company does not need employees who act arbitrarily."

These words sounded as though he were about to fire him.

Qian Yushu's face turned pale, and panic was clearly evident on him. "I'm sorry, Director Zhou. I know I was wrong, and I will never do such a thing again. Please give me another chance."

I knew why he was in such a panic.

His family background was humble, and no matter how eccentric the management of the Zhou Group might be, the salary and benefits provided to employees were at least superior to what other enterprises could offer.

One could say that among so many companies, the compensation and welfare here were the highest.

Unfortunately, Zhou Chenyan was inherently a cold and ruthless person; no matter how much Qian Yushu pleaded, he would not soften his heart.

"Not fired, salary deduction."

"Thank you, Director Zhou."

I figured this wasn't much of a relief for Qian Yushu either.

Coming from a humble background, he was counting entirely on this salary to improve his family's situation.

Yet there was a silver lining.

At least he wasn't kicked out of the company.

For me, however, this was a good thing. After all, Qian Yushu had deceived me, and seeing him receive punishment brought a sense of justice.

I clutched my chest.

What a relief.

Taking advantage of the moment when Zhou Chenyan and Han Qi were talking, I quietly slipped away from the office.

"Sister Mu!"

Qian Yushu chased after me.

I furrowed my brows. "Is there something you need?"

Without a word, Qian Yushu bowed to me. "I'm sorry, Sister Mu."

Naturally, I wouldn't accept this gesture and stepped aside to dodge it.

"What are you doing?"

"I am deeply sorry about the documents. I shouldn't have done such a thing for Zhizi."

"Is that what you are apologizing for?"

I looked at him coldly.

He thought for a moment in a daze, as if he had finally figured it out.

"I shouldn't have lied to you..."

"So you did know." I had always known he liked Zhou Zhizi, but we had been colleagues for so long, and although this guy had an introverted personality and sometimes acted a bit muddled, he was someone willing to endure hardship and work hard.

If one forgot the memories of the past life, at least in this lifetime, he had been a competent colleague in my eyes.

Yet, a colleague like this had lied for the sake of a woman he fancied.

"Qian Yushu, I am very disappointed in you."

I was so disappointed that I didn't want to say another word to him, nor did I even want to look at him again.

"That's it, don't follow me."

I turned and left, but after taking only two steps, a thought crossed my mind. Hesitating for a moment, I turned back. "Qian Yushu, I want to remind you."

He raised his dejected head and looked at me earnestly.

"Sister Mu, go ahead. I will definitely listen."

"Open your eyes wide. Look at people with your heart; what you see with your eyes might be false."

After saying this, I observed his expression.

He wore a blank look.

Truly, some wood cannot be carved.

Too tired to say anything more, I waved my hand dismissively. "Alright, you can go now."

There was no getting through to someone as dense as wood.

He scratched his head, but just as he turned around, he froze in his tracks.

"Director Zhou."

Zhou Chenyan's expression was icy. "Are you planning to leave work now?"

"N-no, I'm not."

"Then why aren't you going back to work?"

"I'll go right now!"

Startled, Qian Yushu scurried off.

As soon as he left, Zhou Chenyan walked toward me. I stepped back step by step, while he advanced relentlessly.

Until my back hit the wall and there was nowhere left to retreat.

"Aren't you afraid of being seen by Zhou Zhizi?"

These words successfully made him stop in his tracks.

He narrowed his eyes and sized me up. "Do you hate me that much now?"

"Is there something you need?"

I had no desire to answer that question.

I just wanted to slip away quickly.

"Have you forgotten everything I told you?"

"What?"

We were in the corridor now, and someone might pass by at any moment. Distracted, I worried about others seeing the two of us together.

Suddenly, he pinched my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"I'm talking to you."

He was extremely displeased.

I turned my head away, breaking free from his grip. "Talk if you must, but keep your hands to yourself."

"You were chatting so happily with him just now, practically reluctant to leave. How come when it's my turn, you look like you're dying to bolt away immediately?"

"Do you actually want others to know that there's something between you and me?"

We had been married for many years, yet he had always hoped this matter wouldn't spread. In the past, I thought this was his way of protecting me.

In reality, he simply didn't want to take me out in public.

"If you're so afraid of gossip, you should pay even more attention to your image," he warned me. "Stop hanging out and talking to other men!"

Looking at his jealous-husband demeanor, I found it quite absurd. "It seems you really are terrified of me bringing shame upon your Zhou family."

"That goes without saying!"

"Then let's get a divorce, and you won't have to worry anymore."

He responded with a cold sneer. "In your dreams."

He pinched my chin again, saying fiercely.

"If you ever dare to mention divorce again, I will immediately make your identity public to everyone, letting the whole world know that the president's wife parachuted into the design department."

I fiercely slapped his hand away.

The blow was heavy, producing a sharp smack.

The back of his hand instantly turned red.

"Are you out of your mind?" I gritted my teeth and asked.

"If you don't start paying attention, I certainly am going to lose my mind."

This man was utterly insane!

Although I had long known he was unwilling to make me public, I didn't dare gamble against his madness. What if he threw a fit and did the exact opposite...

Not to mention how I would face my colleagues in the company; my future plans would also go down the drain.

I didn't dare provoke him anymore.

Seemingly quite satisfied with my surrender, he tucked a stray lock of hair falling beside my cheek behind my ear, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The red handprint on his palm remained exceptionally clear.

"Be a good girl and obey."

"I know."

I said this while swallowing my anger.

The moment he left, I hurried back to my workstation and drank a full cup of coffee just to suppress the surging fury.

Toward evening, right before leaving work, Qian Yushu rushed over to find me.

He wore an expression of hesitation, wanting to speak but holding back.

"If you have something to say, just say it." Standing by my desk with that expression was simply impossible to ignore.

"Sister Mu, you and Zhizi... do you guys have some kind of conflict?"

I abruptly narrowed my eyes.

"What did Zhou Zhizi say to you?"

Embarrassed, Qian Yushu scratched his head. "She didn't really say anything. I just guessed it myself. Never mind, just pretend I didn't ask."

With that, he turned and bolted away.

I set the documents in my hand down on the desk. Without even thinking, I knew this guy had undoubtedly been hoodwinked again.

Zhou Zhizi must have spoken ill of me to him.

And this brainless fellow had rushed over to question me.

Forget it. With the experience of my past life, I should have anticipated long ago that Qian Yushu was Zhou Zhizi's loyal yes-man. Even if he hadn't turned bad in this lifetime yet,

it would only be a matter of time.

Han Qi trusted me a lot, and the next day he handed me another client.

"This is a client I recently secured, but we haven't discussed the designs he wants yet. Here is his contact information and address; find some time to go meet with him and chat."

This was an opportunity he had given me, and I cherished it dearly.

If I could handle this client well, it would mean I had truly secured my footing in the company, giving me the opportunity to approach the core shareholders.

Full of ambition and determination for the mission to succeed, I even did my homework beforehand, learning about this client's preferences and temperament.

Then, I prepared to set off.

To my surprise, Zhou Zhizi clung to me once again.

"Sister Yanyan, you're going to see a client, right? Let me go with you."