You, CEO’s Secret Wife

Huo Liancheng coughed and sputtered as he held the last empty bottle close to his chest, yet no matter how much water he had drunk, the spiciness was still there. Every word he tried to rasp out left a certain sting in his tongue, causing him to reel back almost immediately from the pain. All sense of composure was lost on him as he leaned against the car door, heaving. Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and struggled to get a hold of himself. "It's spicy," he said again, this time, his voice was hoarse.     

    

Jian Yun glanced at the three bottles in his hands before staring up at him. Although it was dark, she could still make out the redness that shadowed the tips of his nose and the stray tears in the corners of his squinted eyes. It was the first time she had ever seen him so disheveled before, and it made for a hilarious sight.     

    

So it turned out that he really couldn't handle the heat!     

    

He was just pretending back at the dining table!     

    

The only reason he hasn't said a word along the way was that he couldn't say anything at all! How could he when his whole mouth was burning from the amount of pork he had eaten?     

    

"I–so it really was–" Blinking, Jian Yun immediately turned away and clasped a hand over her mouth. Even she found herself at a loss for words as the image of Huo Liancheng slumping against the car appeared in her mind. A smile subconsciously slipped into her lips, and her shoulders twitched. No...she wasn't going to laugh.     

    

Knowing how much he had to endure...She slowly peered at the man standing behind her fidgeted. Just one look at his resentful face and swollen lips made her lose all sense of control. Not being able to help it anymore, she slammed her hand at the hood of the car and burst into laughter. The anger in her heart had vanished into thin air as amusement settled in. She clutched her stomach as tears ran down her flushed cheeks. Just as she was about to restrain herself, she glanced back at him and almost fell to the pavement from laughing once more. This was worth every chili oil she had wasted into making that meal! God, if only she could take a picture of him right now.     

    

"You have the nerve to laugh?" Huo Liancheng spoke, not knowing whether to laugh with her or to double over from the pain. Every word he spoke felt like a bee was stinging his tongue, and he couldn't help but wince. "My tongue's swollen now, and there's a CEO meeting tomorrow morning. How am I going to go through with that?"     

    

"Serves you right!" Finally getting a hold of herself, she grinned up at him. "You're the one who started it."     

    

Although her words were blunt, her features were soft. Her lips fell into a pout, and he found himself entranced by the woman standing in front of him without her even knowing it.     

    

"Aren't you heartless?" With a sigh, he glanced around him. There were already a few cars parking around the area, so he patted her on the shoulder. "Just get in the car."     

    

The darkness shadowed across her features, but that still wasn't enough to dampen the brightness in her eyes. A sickeningly sweet smile slithered across her lips as she stared up at him. "Is it still spicy?"     

    

"What do you think?" Huo Liancheng murmured, unamused by the situation. "It's numb now because of you."     

    

His pronunciation had grown a bit muddled, and she suppressed a chuckle. Who would've thought that just a bowl of chili was enough to knock him off his feet? Perhaps she'd have to serve him that every day for him to be the slightest bit bearable in the office as well. At the thought, she smirked.     

    

"If you'll laugh, I'll get angry!" He grimaced and lowered his face. This was certainly not how he had wanted to end the night.     

    

"You can burst into flames for all I care." Jian Yun snorted, giggling. "You have to admit that this is funny."     

    

And it was. Even Huo Liancheng couldn't help but let out a chuckle himself upon seeing both their state. For so long, he had longed to see her smile, and now that it was directed at him–his tongue could fall out from the numbness for all he cared. As long as he could get her to laugh again, all anger would be lost on him. Gripping his hand on the steering wheel, he turned the car towards the other block, his eyes squinting in amusement.     

    

When they had finally arrived at her apartment, Jian Yun blinked. It had just been a second ago when they were practically laughing their butts off, and now, it seemed that their time was coming to an end. She squeezed her purse, refusing to look at him in the eye. Just a few hours ago, she was practically praying that they'd be able to part ways. Why was she suddenly so hesitant in parting with him?     

    

"Thank you for dropping me off." She smiled gratefully. "And I'm truly sorry about the chili fried meat earlier."     

    

The moment she apologized, his eyebrows shot up in the air. "If you're really sorry, you should make up for it by cooking me dinner."     

    

"We'll see about that." Her eyes flickered, not disagreeing outright with his request. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she reached for the door and grasped the handle.     

    

Before she could step out of the car, he suddenly grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her back. "Just so we're clear, I have no relationship with Xia Bingbing," he stated as slowly as he could as if he was explaining it to a three-year-old. Despite his patronizing tone, his features were calm and kind–a far cry from the usual indifference he showed. "I've only met her three weeks ago, and I've never even touched her."     

    

Her heart stirred at his words, but Jian Yun quickly turned away. Although she was a bit flustered from his proclamation, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing it. "You don't have to explain it to me."     

    

Without another word, she stepped out of the car.     

    

Huo Liancheng had parked his car right in front of the building where she lived. Just as she was a few steps near the entrance, she suddenly turned around and raced back to the car as if she had just remembered something. Seeing this, he rolled down his window.     

    

"The coat you've given me..." Jian Yun uttered uneasily. "I already got it from the dry cleaners. You can wait here, and I'll go get it for you."     

    

"There's no need. You could keep it." He shrugged. "Have a good night."     

    

"I–okay, you too." Knowing fully well that she couldn't convince him other ways, she turned away. However, after a few steps, she stopped again.     

    

There was a short pause before she finally turned around. This time, a short but genuine smile spread across her face as she waved her hand at him.     

    

"Drive carefully, okay?"     

    

Those few words, although simple, were enough to melt the ice around his heart. Huo Liancheng gripped his hand across the stirring wheel as he exhaled. Suddenly, the stinging feeling in his tongue didn't seem as painful anymore, and the warmth of her smile had rested in the back of his thoughts. The corners of his lips twitched up.     

    

He had never felt like this in the past thirty years, and somehow, the feeling was worth the wait.     

    

Not saying another word, Jian Yun ran straight through the entrance, leaving him behind.     

    

As soon as she entered her apartment, she could still feel her heart pounding in her chest. 'Drive carefully, that's all you have to say?' Her voice bit back at her, and she couldn't help but flush in agreement. What was going on with her? Her legs still shaking, she walked straight to the balcony and look down. There, she could see Huo Liancheng's car in the driveway. His windows were still down, and he was looking up at her.     

    

Although he was around ten stories down, she could still feel his burning gaze burning a hole through her back. The tips of her ears were tinged red. The flickering lights by the street highlighted the intensity of his stare, and suddenly, she found herself becoming a bit faint. With a wave, she immediately entered the apartment once more, not wanting to waste another second.     

    

Just when she thought it was all over, Luo Yanyan walked out of her room with a smirk on her face. "Tell me, Yun, did you go on a date with Handsome Huo?"     

    

Jian Yun blushed. "No!"     

    

"Are you really going to stand there and lie to me? I could see him sitting in his car looking up at you as if you're the Juliet to his Romeo." Luo Yanyan snorted in laughter, making a gesture. "In fact, per my understanding, you were just passionately bidding each other farewell just a second ago. It's like a scene out of those chick flicks we used to watch."     

    

"No!" She shook her head. "I just happened to bump into him."     

    

"You happened to bump into him so you got into his car? You? Ms. I-don't-like-President Huo?"     

    

"Fine! I'll tell you what really happened." Knowing that Luo Yanyan wouldn't stop grilling her, she quickly held her arms up in surrender and told her what had actually transpired that night. Of course, Jian Yun left out the bits where she kicked him in the crotch and bit his tongue, and only said that she strongly rejected his advances. As she continued, her friend's expression switched from impassive to downright disappointment, and by the time she was finished, Luo Yanyan groaned in disbelief.     

    

"I can't believe you!" Her friend rubbed her nose in frustration before poking her on the forehead. "Only you would reject such a great guy and have the gall to show up here and tell me about it! What a waste of blessing!"     

    

"Hey!" Jian Yun dodged her fingers and frowned. "It's exactly because he's a great guy that I feel like there's something more to what meets the eye. Do you really think he fell in love with me? There must be a reason why he's doing all of this!"     

    

"Haven't we talked about this? Love at first sight doesn't exist, but lust at first sight on the other hand..." Luo Yanyan clicked her tongue. "It's not that I'm trying to beat you when you're down, honey, but other than your good looks, you don't really have much to offer. What else would he want with you if not for your body?"     

    

"Hey!" She protested yet again before motioning to herself. "I have other talents too!"     

    

"Talent in sleeping in is more like it." Luo Yanyan rolled her eyes and stepped out of the balcony. Peering down, she shook her head and smiled. "It looks like our handsome Huo is really invested in you. Look at that! He hasn't even left yet."