You, CEO’s Secret Wife

Jian Yun had wanted to return the necklace ever since she had woken up from her stupor, but all he did was snap in response, telling her to just throw it away if she didn't want it. After that, Huo Liancheng never tried to contact her again. It was as if everything had reverted back to normal, as if they had never met. The last few days were exactly that, yet even then, she till felt unsettled.     

    

She still couldn't help but feel a little bit perturbed with what had happened, and to have him leave it at that...Jian Yun licked her lips tentatively. There were times when she'd even catch herself scrolling down her WeChat to see if he'd reply, only to be left disappointed. But why was she even feeling this way? Wasn't no contact better? At least both of them could now move on from all the awkward instances they had shared together. However, no matter how much she thought about it, Jian Yun still didn't seem convinced.     

    

Huo Liancheng was the man of every woman's dreams. He was far too perfect with his combed-back hair and strong jawline. With his large bank account and excellent ability in generating profit, he had everything going on for him. Even Jian Yun had to admit that she couldn't help but be in awe of all of his achievements, but despite this, she knew where she stood. This wasn't a fairytale where Cinderella puts on her ballgown and falls in love with Prince Charming. No. This was reality, where dreams go die in a hole.     

    

Her heart stirred in her chest, and she suppressed a sigh.     

    

Snapping out of her thoughts, Jian Yun glanced at her phone. It was still ringing. Not bothering to answer it, she threw it inside her bag and continued walking. The pink diamond twinkled in the back of her mind, and she ducked her head. The last thing she wanted to do was to be reminded of the necklace back at her apartment.     

    

She glanced at her bag. If she didn't answer Huo Liancheng's call, then he wouldn't call again, right? However, as a few seconds had passed, it seemed that her theory was continually proven wrong. The phone in her bag still wouldn't stop ringing, and as she walked, she was starting to notice some curious looks being thrown her way. If Jian Yun continued to ignore him, would he still keep calling?     

    

Not wanting to test it out any longer, she finally answered after the third ring, "President Huo?"     

    

"Where are you?" Huo Liancheng asked directly.     

    

Jian Yun raised her head and gazed at the bustling scene around her. Turning toward the other block, she continued walking until the loud clamors had faded into the background. "I'm at home," she lied with a straight face. After all, it wasn't as if he'd know, right?     

    

There was a short pause. "Why did you pick up the phone just now?"     

    

"I...I was asleep, so I didn't hear you." Jian Yun frowned. Her relationship with Huo Liancheng was definitely a sight of inquiry. They weren't lovers. Hell, they weren't even friends, yet, they sounded like a couple whenever they talked to each other. There were times when she'd wonder if this was proof that the man really did care for her, but every time she'd have such an inkling, his actions would prove her otherwise.     

    

"Is that so?" His casual voice became cold.     

    

Feeling a chill run down her spine, Jian Yun had to steady herself. There was something about the way he had twisted his words that made it seem as if he knew she was lying, but she had no other choice but to continue. Besides, she had already dug a hole for herself. It would be far more shameful if she didn't go ahead with it. "What is it, President Huo?"     

    

"It's nothing!" Huo Liancheng snapped after another moment of silence. After listening to her say good night, he quickly hung up, and his screen finally blackened. However, his fierce gaze wasn't directed at his phone anymore but on a small figure on the other side of the road. He saw her insert her phone back into her bag and headed down the street.     

    

She was right in front of him, yet she had the nerve to lie and say that she had already fallen asleep. Did she really not want to see him that much?     

    

"Let's head back." Turning his head, Huo Liancheng placed the box right beside him and frowned.     

    

"Yes, Mr. Huo," Wang Xianzi, his driver, nodded.     

    

The middle-aged man couldn't help but peer at his rearview mirror just to get a better look at his boss's face. Originally, when he picked up Huo Liancheng from the airport, he had instructed him to drive to Ming's first. However, in a few minutes, after he had gone down, he returned and asked Wang Xianzi to circle around the area before making a brief phone call.     

    

Although he was puzzled by his boss's peculiar behavior, the old man followed suit. Besides, Mr. Huo's private matters weren't any of his concern; all he needed to do was to drive and obey his orders.     

    

After Jian Yun hung up, a sense of guilt settled in her stomach. Just then, she felt a pair of eyes glaring at her back from across the road, but when she turned around, all she could see was an unfamiliar car slowly driving away.    

    

Although she didn't recognize the car, she felt her heart skipping a few beats. Thinking that it was nothing, she heaved a sigh and walked away.     

    

When Jian Yun had finally arrived in her apartment, it was almost 10:00. Scanning her surroundings, there was also no sight of Luo Yanyan. It seemed that her friend also had other appointments to attend to. Planning to wash up and change, she walked up to her closet and pulled it open, only to see Liancheng's jacket hanging beside her other dresses. She stilled.     

    

It seemed that it was almost yesterday when her clothes were torn and Cheng Muze had handed this coat to her. Although she had already taken it to the dry cleaners, she had never gotten around to returning it to him.     

    

At first, she had assumed that the clothes belonged to Cheng Muze. After all, with Huo Liancheng's obsession with cleanliness, she didn't peg him as the type of man who would lend his clothes to a stranger–no matter how piteous she could've looked. Imagine her surprise when she was told otherwise.     

    

With a sigh, Jian Yun slid her fingers down his sleeves, stroking the fabric. No wonder Luo Yanyan had thought that she had a blind date with a rich man a few weeks ago. Looking at the intricate design alone, she could bet that this would cost thousands of yuan. Even if she worked all year round, she still wouldn't be able to buy this coat, much less own hundreds of them.     

    

As she looked at it up and down, she could deduce that Huo Liancheng was around 185 centimeters tall.     

    

The man was tall, good-looking, and rich. He had everything under his wing. How could he not have several women chasing after him?     

    

'Aren't you a hypocrite?' Jian Yun scolded herself, resisting the urge to snort. If Wu Wenjing and Luo Yanyan heard her now, they would've smacked her senseless. How could she even reject such a perfect man like him? "You're probably the one with the problem, not him," they'd murmur in irritation upon hearing her endless complaints.     

    

It doesn't matter anyway. She rolled her eyes. Besides, he never really said anything about pursuing her. A man like President Huo could get any girl he pleased. Perhaps he was just intrigued by how she had acted around him, and all he ever planned for her was to be another notch in his bedpost. Don't all rich, privileged men think the same?     

    

But then...Why would he give her the Lover's Heart? Of all the jewelry in the world, why would he give her something that held so much meaning?     

    

She shook her head. The more the thought resurfaced in her mind, the more her head pounded in pain. It was better to just let it be.     

    

Taking her clothes from the rack, Jian Yun closed her closet.     

    

She turned on her laptop and sat on her bed. Ever since smartphones became more advance, her laptop had been left unused, but Jian Yun still opened it up from time to time to post on her Weibo account. Scanning her feed, she couldn't help but giggle at all the gossip that had filled up her wall.     

    

Although Jian Yun had her own battles, she was just like any other girl. She loved gossip, especially if it was about her favorite celebrities. Although she wasn't as much of a fanatic as Wu Wenjing, she still enjoyed a good article every now and then during her free time. A small smile threaded across her lips, as she updated herself with all the newest trends.     

    

As she delved into her feed, she heard a sound coming from her phone. Picking it up, she saw that Cheng Muze had just sent her a message.     

    

Jian Yun glanced at the time and pursed her lips. It's already so late. Why would he be looking for her?     

    

"Sister Jian," he had written. "You've already received the gift, right? Do you like it?"     

    

"Gift?" She furrowed her eyebrows.     

    

"Fourth Brother went to find you as soon as we got off the plane. Didn't he give it to you?"     

    

"I didn't see him!" After Jian Yun sent the message, she couldn't help but remember the unfamiliar car that had driven right past her. She shuddered. It was rare to see such luxurious cars in Qinghu City, especially around such a busy district. Plus, there was something about the way she had felt down the alleyway that made her feel a bit off...Was he in that car this entire time?     

    

Was this the reason he started snapping at her when she said that she had been sleeping with him? Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and she couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty.     

    

"Pity, and here I thought I'll be seeing your surprised face tonight!" Cheng Muze teased, unaffected by her response.     

    

Thinking about it, she couldn't help but ask, "Do you mind if I ask why he gave me a present?"     

    

He had already given her a diamond necklace, and now it seemed that he had brought her another present from abroad. Jian Yun leaned against her pillows, feeling a little bit faint. Why was he doing this?     

    

"You'll have to ask Fourth Brother that!" Cheng Muze sent a snickering emoji, not answering her directly.     

    

"Aren't you a delight?" She sent a bitter emoji and slumped back on her bed. She couldn't possibly ask Huo Liancheng about the gift, besides, it wasn't as if he had given it to her yet. What if Cheng Muze was just teasing her about it?     

    

"You should head to sleep. It's already late," he responded with a smiley face.     

    

Rolling her eyes, Jian Yun stared at the ceiling. How could she sleep now? After that revelation, different thoughts soared through her mind as she tried to come up with a reason why Huo Liancheng would even think of buying her a gift. Giving up, she decided to text Wu Wenjing, "If a guy keeps sending you gifts, what does that mean?"