You, CEO’s Secret Wife

It didn't even take Wu Wenjing a minute to reply, "If a man sends you gifts, then he's obviously sending you signals that he wants to sleep with you. Wait! Who sent you the gift? Is it President Huo? Or Lawyer Zhou?"     

    

"No one! Go to sleep." Jian Yun sent the message with an angry emoji before shutting off her phone. Warmth rushed up to her face as a red hue colored her cheeks. Various thoughts ran over her mind as she struggled to keep her cool. Having known Huo Liancheng, it would be ludicrous to think that he was trying to make a move on her. Maybe she was just overthinking it! Maybe he had felt sorry for her and...ugh! She shook her head. It was better to leave it like that. Just thinking about it more made her even more confused about his intentions.     

    

However, as much as she had wanted the conversation to end there, Wu Wenjing was having none of her secrecies. Jian Yun's phone rang–its calming tone echoing across the room. With a sigh, she slid her thumb across the bright screen, and another voice bounced over her thin walls, "Are you really going to leave me at the edge of my seat? You know, curiosity may have killed the cat, but keeping it from the cat is just pure torture!"     

    

"No one gave me anything, really. I was just wondering." The last thing she wanted was to have Wu Wenjing hyperventilate over Huo Liancheng's gift. Remembering how her friend had reacted back when Jian Yun had told her about the necklace, she shuddered and turned away. A recap of that scene was definitely scratched off from her bucket list.     

    

"I don't believe you!" Wu Wenjing accused. "Did Handsome Huo give you something again? What is it?"     

    

"It's really nothing." After insisting, Jian Yun quickly changed the topic. "Do you have any plans this weekend?"     

    

"Nowhere. If you're talking the blind date, then I can tell you right now that it didn't work out." Wu Wenjing snorted, telling her about her disastrous date. Soon enough, all the questions about the gift and President Huo were thrown out of the window. After a few seconds, she sighed. "How about you? Any plans?"     

    

"I'll be heading back to Boshan tomorrow to visit my Mom. Will you be coming with me?" She ran her hand down her hair.     

    

Wu Wenjing's parents had left her when she was still young, so her grandmother had been taking care of her all these years. During her first year in college, her grandmother had passed away, and when she was brought back to her parents, both of them already had separate families with children of their own. Although Sichuan was close to her heart, she hadn't been back ever since that day. There were just far too many memories buried under the familiar pavements that she couldn't bring herself to go and visit.     

    

Since they were close friends, Jian Yu would always invite her to eat with them every New Year's. Besides, Mrs. Jian had always admired her friend's straightforward personality and blunt gestures, finding it much similar to her own youthful days. In time, her inclusion in the family became a more regular thing.     

    

When Jian Yun's family had spiraled for the worse, it was Wu Wenjing who had helped her take care of her mother. Despite all the hardships they had experienced, both her friends had stood by her no matter what, and she couldn't thank them enough for it.     

    

"Of course! I miss Auntie!" Wu Wenjing agreed without hesitation.     

    

The two of them made plans as to where to meet the next day before hanging up.     

    

Jian Yun glanced at the time displayed on her screen. It was already past 11 o'clock. She blinked, not realizing that it was already this late. Not having the mood to check on her Weibo account anymore, she placed her laptop back on her desk and buried herself under the covers of her bed. By midnight, darkness had already greeted her like an old friend.     

    

She hadn't dreamt in a long time, but tonight, she found herself being engulfed by her own memories. Suddenly, Jian Yun stood in a familiar garden with the cool breeze brushing her face and tickling her fingertips. From afar, she could see Xu Haiyang standing under the huge banyan tree near the lake, smiling up at her. There was a sense of familiarity in his eyes, one that had made her stomach lurch. Just as she was about to walk over and yell out his name, Lin Lanlan suddenly jumped into his arms and shot her a smirk. Suddenly, the cool breeze became biting, and the bright skies had darkened tremendously. Her ball of memories had suddenly turned into a nightmare.     

    

Laughter erupted all around her, and different pairs of eyes dotted across her surroundings. All of them towered over her until she found herself struggling to breathe. It was as if she had been stripped naked in front of them as she trembled under their piteous gazes. The vulnerability had never felt this terrible...this hurtful. It was in these moments when she felt alone and isolated, trying to find the solace she so desperately needed.     

    

Suddenly, a hand reached out for her, pulling her through the crowd. His hand was warm and steady, far more comforting than the iciness of her skin. His tall figure shrouded around her, but instead of feeling alone, she felt safe–comforted. It was as if everything had finally fallen into place, and a small smile painted across her lips. They walked, and their surroundings became brighter and brighter, and when she turned around, she discovered that she was nowhere near the park anymore, but a church. When Jian Yun glanced down, she saw that she was wearing a pale wedding dress with jewelry fit for a queen. "I..."     

    

"Starting today, you're my wife."     

    

Although he didn't say it outright, she could still hear the words ringing in her minds. The wedding bells clanged in response, and Huo Liancheng stepped even closer to her. Their faces were millimeters apart, and he started leaning in.     

    

"No." She had wanted to say, but the words had died in her throat. His presence was enough to render anyone speechless, even in the remnants of her dream.     

    

However, before Jian Yun could react even more, his face morphed into Zhou Shaolong. "Yun," he had said, leaning in, and she jolted back to reality.    

    

"Ah!" Her eyes widened as she scanned her room. Seeing that she was still in her pajamas and in her bed, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her chest heaved up and down as she struggled to control her breathing. What the hell was that? Twisting her wrists, Jian Yun straightened her back and tried her best to get all her thoughts in order. Although it was just a nightmare, she couldn't help but feel as if it had really happened.    

    

What was she so afraid of? Was it the thought of marrying Huo Liancheng? Or was it when he had turned into Zhou Shaolong?     

    

"God! What the hell was that?" Jian Yun groaned, rubbing her face against the blanket as if the mere act could wipe off her thoughts. "Ugh! Yun, what were you even thinking?"     

    

Knowing that she couldn't sleep after that, she swung her legs over her bed. It was almost seven anyway. Although it was still early, it wouldn't hurt to get up now.     

    

Once Jian Yun was finished washing up, she called Wu Wenjing and was about to leave when she saw Luo Yanyan walking out of her own room.     

    

"Yanyan, what time did you get back?" She had slept so soundly that night that she didn't even notice that her roommate had returned.     

    

"I got back around midnight. I had a lot of studies to catch up on in school, so I'd been busy all night. Wait, before you go, take this." Luo Yanyan took out her phone from her pocket and opened the Alipay app. Within a few seconds, she sent the three thousand yuan she had previously borrowed and smiled up at her. "See how convenient this is? It's fast and doesn't have any charging fees. Every broke student's dream."     

    

Jian Yun snorted. She was about to respond to her when her phone rang. "Yun, I couldn't buy a train ticket, so you might as well get a refund on yours," she quickly said apologetically. "Why don't we take a bus? It's only a two to three hours' drive from Qinghu to Boshan anyway. It wouldn't take that long."     

    

"Alright."     

    

"Wenjing's coming with you to Boshan?" Luo Yanyan tilted her head.     

    

"Yeah! You want to come with?" Jian Yun clicked on the website and quickly refunded the ticket that she had bought. Either way, she was fine with any mode of transportation. Besides, taking the bus, although inefficient, would still save her the money she needed for her mother's surgery. The difference wasn't much, but every cent still counted.     

    

"Sure! Just give me a second to change my clothes." Luo Yanyan was about to head back to her room before she stopped and turned around. "Wait, how long are we staying there?"    

    

Jian Yun leaned against the doorframe as she waited. "If you have anything to get to later, then we can head back tonight. If you aren't in much of a hurry, we could head back tomorrow morning."     

    

"I'm fine with coming back tomorrow."     

    

"Yanyan, I feel like all your height went to your breasts," she teased, glancing at Luo Yanyan while she was struggling to fit into her shirt. Her petite height didn't fit her busty figure, an aspect that she and Wu Wenjing had teased to no end.     

    

"You're the one to talk!" Finally able to fit into her shirt, Luo Yanyan pointed an accusing finger at her, narrowing her eyes. She reached out to pinch the sides of her stomach. "Why don't you look at your own figure, hmm? Looking at you, it obviously shows that God has His favorites. I bet your husband would praise the fates above for being so lucky!"     

    

Upon hearing the word 'husband', Huo Liancheng's face popped into her mind. The dream played in her thoughts once more, she blushed bright red. This wasn't the right time to think about him!     

    

"Why are you blushing?" Catching her flushed face, Luo Yanyan smiled mischievously and teased, "Tell me, are you thinking of President Huo? Or the lawyer? Hm, from the looks of it, it must be Handsome Huo, right? After the necklace he got you, it should be him!"     

    

"Shut it!" Pushing her prying fingers away, Jian Yun quickly stepped out of her apartment. "Let's go, otherwise, Wu Wenjing would be calling us over and over again if she didn't spot us in the bus station."     

    

All three of them had arrived at the bus stop just in time. Jian Yun bought all three of their tickets, and they quickly chatted about all the things that had happened since the last time they had seen each other. It was as if they were back in college again, worrying over their finals as they groaned over how stressed they were. How time flew by.     

    

There were still twenty minutes before the bus was due to leave, so the three of them decided to get some breakfast first to fill their stomachs. They had always been regarded as one of the top three beauties back at school. While Jian Yun was more of a classic beauty with her regal features and high cheekbones, Wu Wenjing had more of a seductive and alluring flare with her fiery eyes and red lips. Luo Yanyan, on the other hand, was the more subdued one between the three–but still, nevertheless beautiful with her sweet smile and equally honeyed voice. Either way, whenever the three of them appeared, they were a sight for sore eyes. As soon as they entered the restaurant, all the young men turned their heads, completely stunned by what they saw. In fact, they even received a plate of Xiao Long Bao for free. Ignorant of the effect they had on them, the three laughed and resumed their conversation.     

    

Once they finally sat on the bus, Jian Yun's phone rang again. This time, the phone call was from Zhou Shaolong. "Hello?" She asked hesitantly, glancing at the window. Recently, he had been very persistent in contacting her–even finding ways to see her every day. Yesterday, while they were having lunch, he even brought up the topic of marriage–something that she had always strayed away from.