You, CEO’s Secret Wife

Jian Yun furrowed her eyebrows. He said that he wanted to woo her? Was there a camera stuck in the bushes trying to film her reaction? Was this some sort of elaborate prank that Sophy had set up for her? Her eyes slid to the scattered leaves across the patio, and she fidgeted. How could a man like him even be interested in her?     

    

Maybe he had gone crazy. Maybe her kick affected him more than she had initially thought.     

    

"I–did you hurt your head or something?" She stared at him as if he had just grown two heads. The more she looked at his smile, the more she assumed that she was right. Who would smile after getting kicked in the crotch? "Should I send you to the hospital?"     

    

"Stupid girl." Huo Liancheng sighed in frustration, running his hand through his hair. "And what good would that do for you?"     

    

Not bothering to do anything to her anymore, he used his other hand to prop himself up against the wall. There was a wooden flower rack right beside Jian Yun, obscuring anyone from their view, so from an outsider's perspective, it looked as if Huo Liancheng was holding her in his arms.     

    

He poked her forehead, and she frowned, ignoring the intimacy of his action. After all, she couldn't kick him for that, could she?     

    

After a moment of silence, Jian Yun finally said, "If you're really serious about this, then I'm going to say this once, okay? I don't like you."     

    

"Can you tell me why?" His eyes dimmed slightly.     

    

"Because I hate men like you–carefree, rich, without the slightest ounce of responsibility." The light in her eyes had faded, and it was soon replaced with darkness as old memories resurfaced. Xu Haiyang's face popped in the back of her mind, and she pulled away from his touch. "So if that's the case, then I should advise you not to waste your time on me."     

    

"But–"     

    

"Jian, are you okay? Mommy asked me to come and find you." Chloe's voice echoed from inside the house.     

    

"I'm here!" Not wanting to waste another minute, Jian Yun ducked under his outstretched arm and raced back through the sliding door. The last thing she needed was to be interrogated any further about her past. A dull ache pounded in her chest, but she ignored it. Xu Haiyang had given a long-lasting impression on her that could never be removed. With a sigh, she shook her thoughts from her mind and focused on the present.     

    

Huo Liancheng stared at her retreating figure. His eyes held a certain softness that not everyone had seen before. Finally, after so long, he had gotten to see her more spirited side. She looked even more adorable than her usual quiet self, and it was definitely a change to their dynamic.     

    

Although a part of him was disappointed that she didn't like him back, he still didn't seem too disheartened. As long as she still wasn't married, he still had a chance.     

    

There was no way he was going to give up, not this time.     

    

When Jian Yun returned to the kitchen, Sophy had already prepared all the ingredients according to her instructions and was simply waiting for her next line of orders.     

    

At the sight of the younger woman's flustered face, she couldn't help but tease, "What took you so long? Were you on a little date with Mr. Huo?"     

    

"I just stayed in the washroom for a little while longer." Jian Yun automatically denied.     

    

"Jian, why are you bleeding?" Chloe, who was already dressed in her princess costume, ran back and forth across the living room. Slipping into the kitchen, she had planned to show her tutor her rabbits until she saw the bloodstain coating her bottom lips. Immediately, the young girl reeled back in fright. "What happened?"     

    

Sophy stopped what she was doing and turned towards her. "What happened? Are you hurt?"     

    

"No, it's just the weather was dry, so my lips cracked," Jian Yun explained, realizing that she still hadn't wiped off the blood from her lips. She quickly walked over to the sink and rinsed her mouth with water before straightening her back.     

    

The blood wasn't hers, but Huo Liancheng. She really must've bitten him hard enough to leave a mark. A sinister smirk slid across her lips as she prepared the vegetables. It seemed that he definitely would remember tonight's encounter. For better or worse, that's for him to decide. Served him right for being such a jerk!     

    

However, she certainly wouldn't mind leaving a more...lasting impression per se. Jian Yun glanced at shadowed corners by the pool, and her eyes twinkled with mischief. 'Let's see how you'll like this, President Huo,' she thought as she got to work.     

    

By seven o'clock, she had already prepared a batch of six dishes, introducing a variety of their cuisine. From sweet and sour pork to stewed prawns, although they were all fairly common in any household, the fresh fragrance and bright colors were enough to impress any guest at the dining table. Jian Yun placed a large bowl of soup right in the middle, glancing at the plates in satisfaction. This was definitely the best of her cooking.     

    

Chloe, who was so used to eating French cuisine, started salivating at the sight of these unfamiliar dishes. Her fingers slid across her utensils, already prepared to eat.     

    

Mr. Bernard led Huo Liancheng to sit at the corner of the table, being the guest of honor. Immediately, Jian Yun personally carried the last plate of food and placed it right in front of him. There was a hidden smile on her expression as she glanced up at him.     

    

"President Huo, I specially made this for you!"     

    

Huo Liancheng glanced at the plate of chili fried meat in front of him before looking back at her. His eyelids twitched, but he didn't say another word.     

    

When the hosts took their seats, Jian Yun naturally sat beside Huo Liancheng. "This is so good!" Sophy praised as all of them dug in, but her focus was entirely on the man sitting right beside her. Her fingers fidgeted in anticipation as if waiting for him to jump off his seat and burst into flames.     

    

Jian Yun's grandmother was from Hunan–a place very similar to Sichuan in terms of its penchant for eating spicy meals, and she had brought her mother's special chili sauce all the way from home. Although she was planning to add a little bit of spice in their meals to elevate the flavor of the pork, she intentionally poured more chili sauce into this dish. She suppressed a giggle. Even the steam was enough to bring anyone to tears.     

    

Even Wu Wenjing wouldn't be able to stand this level of spiciness. Furthermore, since Huo Liancheng was wounded, just one small bite was enough to bring the man to his knees. It would be torture! The corners of her lips twitched. Tonight would definitely be unforgettable.     

    

Jian Yun took a bite from her meal from time to time, but all she could focus on was Huo Liancheng's face.     

    

However, it seemed that she had spoken too soon. As the dinner went on, Huo Liancheng had already eaten quite a few mouthfuls, yet he still remained calm and composed as if he just hadn't eaten a bowl of chili. Even Sophy was curious to try the dish. Ignoring Jian Yun's obstructions, she decided to take a bite herself, and immediately took out a large pitcher of cold water from the refrigerator. "I don't know how you handle that amount of spice in one plate!" The older lady gasped, seeing that the man had already eaten half the platter himself without a single drop of sweat.     

    

Maybe she had mistaken the tomato sauce as chili sauce? Jian Yun decided to pick up some pork with her chopsticks, but the moment the food had touched her lips, she immediately broke out into cold sweat. She turned her head and fanned her mouth, guiltily accepting the water that Liancheng had passed to her before drinking it all in one gulp. Ignoring his mocking gaze, she proceeded to enjoy her meal silently.     

    

This time, even Jian Yun had to respect him. The man was totally frigid that he couldn't even feel the spiciness of the meal. If his tongue wasn't impaired, then he was practically a psychopath! A maniac with a masochistic zeal for spice.     

    

Other than the extremely spicy dish, the other guests enjoyed the dinner to their heart's content.     

    

Once they were all finished, Jian Yun stood up. "I'll be leaving now. Thank you again for the meal, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard," she thanked them respectfully, and Huo Liancheng soon followed. The couple had exceptionally enjoyed their time together that they even set another day where they could all see each other again soon. With a nod of agreement and an exchange of numbers, the couple walked their visitors to the gate.     

    

"I could drive you to your apartment." Huo Liancheng naturally held her hand and pulled her towards the parking not.     

    

Seeing as Mr. and Mrs. Bernard were happy to oblige, she could only swallow her irritation and allowed herself to be pulled towards him.     

    

Once they far from their sight, Huo Liancheng let go of her hand and got in the car. Jian Yun soon followed. As they drove farther and farther from the villa, she glanced at him from time to time, wondering if he was going to say anything about the trick she had pulled. After all, with his pettiness, he'd surely try to get even with her for it. But as minutes had passed, he still hadn't said a word. She furrowed her eyebrows. Was he really not affected by it?     

    

However, just when she had thought that he wouldn't say a word, he suddenly parked at an abandoned parking lot and immediately rushed towards the convenience store located on the other side of the road. Stunned, she could only sit still and stare as he strolled right out of the store with three large bottles of mineral water sitting in his arms.     

    

He had popped open a bottle of water and proceeded to gulp it down entirely. Once he had arrived by the car door, he had already finished one bottle and proceeded to open another one. He leaned against the vehicle, looking like a man who hadn't drunk a sip of liquid for days.     

    

Her jaw dropped. Concerned, Jian Yun got out of the car and stood beside him. When she saw that he was already in his third bottle of water, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you really that thirsty?"     

    

Once Huo Liancheng was finished, a weird expression crossed his features. Silence ensued between them before he gasped out, "Spicy!"