You, CEO’s Secret Wife

"He didn't want to break up, but that wasn't his choice to make." Forcing a smile on her lips, Jian Yun blinked rapidly as she desperately tried to hold the tears back. Sometimes, even time couldn't heal the pains of her past, and all she could do now was move a step forward and look into the future. Perhaps, that was her only distraction from it happening in the present. "The day he betrayed me was the day everything was over between us. What I want is stability and loyalty–things that I know you won't be able to give. I can't, no, I don't want to get hurt again."     

    

"What if I can give that to you?" Huo Liancheng tightened his grip on her shoulders. "What if I promise that I'll never hurt you like he did?"     

    

She laughed bitterly. "Then I don't want it either."     

    

"Why?"     

    

"Don't you understand?" Jian Yun looked up at him. Her eyes were watery, and the tip of her nose was tinged red. With a shake of her head, she removed herself from his hold and walked directly towards the sofa–not wanting to stare at him any longer. "The last thing I'll trust is man's promise–especially yours."     

    

He could only stare helplessly at her retreating back, clenching and unclenching his fists. His heart stirred in protest, but there was nothing else he could do. "Do you really trust Attorney Zhou that much then? Do you think he can give you what you want? What you need?"     

    

She paused. Although Zhou Shaolong and she had called it quits the day before yesterday, it was a fact that she had kept to herself and her friends. Back at the car, Jian Yun had wanted to tell Huo Liancheng, but after the way he had worded his sentences then, she chose not to. Besides, it was better for him to think like this. Maybe he'd back off once he realized the numerous obstacles surrounding his path. Maybe then, she'd finally be alone. However, that thought left a weird feeling in her chest.    

    

Huo Liancheng was charming, and almost every woman was attracted to him. Who wouldn't? But it was precisely because of this that she didn't want to fall for him, not wanting to step into a trap she had so carelessly stepped into a few years ago. The pain she had felt–it was agonizing and heartbreaking, and she refused to go through the same pain ever again.     

    

If she had fallen for him, maybe this time, there would be no recuperating from the fall.     

    

This was why she had chosen to find someone she didn't love to marry. At least, if she didn't have any expectations, there wouldn't be any risk of getting hurt. It was only then she could live a peaceful life–a painless life. And it was one that she had aspired to from the very beginning.    

    

With a sigh, Jian Yun turned away, wanting to calm herself down. "I'm going to the bathroom."     

    

"You're evading from me again!" Sighing reluctantly, Huo Liancheng pointed her the way.    

    

She stuck her tongue out but didn't bother to say anything more. Walking into the bathroom, she closed the door behind her and glanced around. There was nothing on the sink except for a bottle of handwash. It was obvious that the restroom was prepared for his guests. With a sigh, she dipped her hands under the cool liquid as she thought of the events that had just transpired.     

    

Jian Yun smiled bitterly, staring into her reflection. The woman in front of her was far from the exciting youth she used to be. Gone were the years when it was so easy to laugh and grin as if there was nothing wrong. Now that she had a taste of reality, there was no going back from there. It had been six years already, and she didn't think that it was possible to see Xu Haiyang again. After spatting out on how she hated him so much, she didn't have the courage to face him after everything they had been through.     

    

What was she so afraid of?     

    

She didn't know how long she had stayed in the bathroom until Huo Liancheng knocked on the door. "Have you fallen into the toilet bowl? What's taking so long?"     

    

"What?" Jian Yun blinked, snapping out of her reverie.     

    

"Someone's calling you."     

    

"Don't bother answering it!" Thinking that it was Xu Haiyang who had called her, her fingers gripped the sink below her. There was no way she was falling into his trap again–no way in hell. Just then, a thought had occurred to her. "Wait, do you mind checking to see who called?"     

    

If it was her mother who called, then the old woman would be worried sick if she didn't answer.     

    

Not long after, his voice rang out, "Luo Yanyan, and there's another video call–from Wu Wenjing. Do you want me to pick it up?"    

    

"Wait, I'll take it!" Jian Yun was about to turn around and step out of the bathroom when a sudden chill ran through her body. With a cry of surprise, she jumped back and glanced down to see that she had forgotten to turn off the tap while she was washing her hands. The water was already overflowing around the basin, splashing against her chest as it quickly drenched her pants. "Fuck!"     

    

The sink had been manufactured to fit Huo Liancheng's tall height, so before she could stop it, her shirt and pants were already drenched. Hurriedly, Jian Yun twisted the faucet shut, breathing a sigh of frustration.     

    

"Are you taking a bath?" His voice held a twinge of incredulity as he heard the sound of splashing water from the other end of the door.     

    

"I–I may have forgotten to close the faucet, and now my clothes are all wet." Jian Yun opened the door as she gazed at the floor, not wanting to even look at him. At this point, she had lost all face in front of him. Not only had she continuously embarrassed herself whenever he was around, but he always had front-row seats to witness the shame she had felt.     

    

She had initially thought that he'd say something–mock her right on the spot. After all, Huo Liancheng had always been like this, but all she had heard was a hushed silence. In fact, it was so silent that she could hear a pin drop from a mile away. Not being able to help herself, she looked up to see what he was doing, only to see him staring at her in awe.     

    

"What are you looking at?" She furrowed her eyebrows, following his gaze. Her eyes widened, and it was as if all the blood had rushed up to her face. Feeling warm, she ducked and covered herself. "Don't look!"     

    

Why hadn't she noticed that she was just wearing a white shirt and a jacket today? She had felt so hot after entering the household that she had taken off her coat, and now that the water had drenched her–her black bra was displayed.     

    

Coming back to his senses, Huo Liancheng smirked. "If I didn't know you any better, I would've assumed that you were trying to lure me by doing that."     

    

"I said, don't look!" Jian Yun stomped her feet. Quickly folding her arms, she glared at him even harder. If looks could kill, he would've been seven feet under the ground at this point. 'Sometimes, I feel like the unluckiest person alive,' she thought, groaning inwardly. It seemed that her fate would forever be intertwined with him in complete embarrassment.     

    

"All right, I won't look." Holding back his laughter, he slowly turned around. "Your period just ended, and you pour all this cold water onto yourself. You should take a hot bath, just so you wouldn't catch a cold."     

    

The sudden softness of his voice stunned her. In all the years of her life, she had never seen such a man so openly concerned about her period. Normally, some of the men she had met were disgusted at the thought of even mentioning it.     

    

She slowly nodded. Besides, what he said made a lot of sense. After all, wearing wet clothes could be very uncomfortable.     

    

"But my clothes are wet, and I don't have anything to change into." Jian Yun wrinkled her nose as she pulled the sticky fabric from her skin. It would've made no sense if she took a bath just to wear these wet fabrics again. "Wait, do you have a hairdryer I could use?"     

    

"There's a clothes dryer in the laundry room. It'll be dried in half an hour." With a shrug, Huo Liancheng held her hand and led her out of the living room.     

    

"Wait!" Her eyes narrowed. "Where are you taking me? Couldn't I wash there?"     

    

"There's no heater in that washroom. You should go inside," he responded naturally.     

    

Soon enough, the brightly lit living room was gone from her view as they walked up the grand staircase. With a slow turn, she found herself stepping into a large room. This was obviously the Master's Bedroom, with a large king-sized bed, and silver-grey colors looming over them like a cage. It was obvious that the room was well-kept. Although lifeless, there was a certain elegance carved into it, just like the living room. She blinked.     

    

Huo Liancheng motioned her into the bathroom and taught her how to turn on the heater. Before she could say anything, he crossed his arms over her chest and grinned. "Do you want me to help you wash up?"     

    

Her eyes suddenly widened in alertness as she immediately pushed past him, yelling, "Thanks! But there's no need!"     

    

Slamming the door shut, Jian Yun could hear his low laughter bouncing from the walls, and she suddenly felt the urge to bury herself into her hands. Why was she always getting into these kinds of situations?     

    

With a sigh, she looked around. The bathroom was quite large. With a shower and a Jacuzzi at the other end of the room, it certainly made use of the space. There were a few toiletries on the washstand as well. 'Everything's so tidy,' she thought. 'But then again, he has always been a clean freak.' Taking a quick look around, she noticed that there was only one toothbrush!     

    

She was halfway out of her clothes when a knock sounded from the door. Jian Yun tensed. "What's up?"